But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Today’s verse needs a little context, doesn’t it? Samuel, a prophet of God, had arrived at the house of Jesse, where God had told him he would find the next king of Israel after Saul. Now Jesse had 8 sons, and when the first, Eliab, stood before him, Samuel thought, “Woah, this guy definitely looks like he could be a king.”
That is what the Lord was responding to when he told Samuel not to judge based on outward appearances. In fact, Jesse had six more sons stand in front of Samuel only to be asked if there was anyone else, because none of the first seven were the right one. And so they sent for Jesse’s youngest, who no one had even considered for the position. Jesse’s youngest? The future King David.
People look at the outward appearance, while the Lord looks at the heart. To be honest, it’s impossible to know exactly what is in a person’s heart…even our own at times. We have to work off of context cues; actions and attitudes. And even then, it’s often hard to understand unless you truly know that person inside and out - their history, their worldview, their relationships, their hopes and fears…you get the idea.
This is why it’s so important to withhold judgment when we encounter others. On both sides of the coin. I’ve known professing Christians who lie and backstab and badmouth others behind their backs. I’ve known non-Christians who are more Christ-like in their thoughts and actions than people who’ve grown up in the church. And yet, I don’t know their hearts.
Just from personal experience, I can tell you that growing up I was always asked why I was so “kind.” I wasn’t, not really. I was just a major people pleaser - I wanted to be loved, so I behaved in a way that would earn me favor. And I’m not ashamed to admit that even after becoming a Christian, my desire for love and my inability to say no led me into many undesirable situations. Situations that my Christian friends didn’t ever seem to have trouble with…at least, until I opened up and shared my own struggles with them. It was sobering to realize just how many people who go to church end up hiding who they really are for fear of judgment.
Friend, if you’ve ever felt judged and/or found lacking by someone who professes to be a Christian, I just want to apologize. And if you’ve ever been the one to judge or find others lacking, I want to encourage you to open your mind and your heart to God’s Holy Spirit. Our job is not to judge - it’s only to share the good news that God, the true Judge, has already passed judgment…and Jesus Christ has taken our punishment on our behalf.
