1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) – “But the LORD told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
I went to a big box store to purchase a product and came away with an important lesson. When I reached the section where my product was located, I put on my glasses to ensure I had the correct item. After reading the small print and confirming that I had what I needed, I headed towards the checkout line. Along the way, several young women in the store greeted me, and I responded with a smile and said, “Hello.” When I reached the checkout line, another young lady smiled and directed me to the self-checkout line. I scanned my items, but my card declined when I swiped it. Not worried, I swiped it again but got the same result. The young lady didn’t say anything; she just smiled and went to help other customers. I was slightly upset but used another card and left the store.
When I got in my car, I wondered why my card declined. I looked at my face in the rearview mirror and laughed out loud. Earlier that day, one of the nose pads had fallen off my glasses, causing discomfort. I had wrapped a piece of white tape around the missing nose pad point. Although the glasses no longer hurt, they looked ridiculous, like the glasses Steve Urkel wore on TV. That’s why I had them in my pocket. But I forgot to take them off after finding my item in the store.
I replayed my experience in the store and realized that I had been walking around with white tape on my glasses. My card was declined, and it appeared I had no money. So, the whole time, I looked like a poor man wearing broken glasses, unable to afford money.
Reflection
My experience in the store, where I found myself with glasses patched with white tape and a declined card with money in the bank, is a poignant example of how appearances can be deceiving. This situation was a vivid reminder of how quickly we judge based on what we see.
However, what is visible on the outside rarely tells the whole story about a person or a situation. Just as the Lord reminded Samuel, the heart, not the outward appearance, truly defines a person.
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. A poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Takeaway
This incident calls us to reevaluate how we perceive value and worth in ourselves and others. It’s a reminder that our actual value is not determined by our outward circumstances but by the unseen qualities that lie within. This perspective shift aligns with how God sees us, looking beyond the superficial to the heart.
Conclusion
Let this experience gently nudge us to pause and think before making judgments based on our perception. Whether in our interactions with others or how we view ourselves, let’s adopt a perspective that aligns more closely with how God sees us—focusing on the heart, their character, and the unseen qualities that define our true worth.
