When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” 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 16:6-7

This isn’t some new kind of thinking. Many people have written and commented on this passage before but I was struck again today by the powerful lesson it teaches us.

We reward and notice the work of peoples hands way more than the state of their heart. Talent and skill have become the markers of success, popularity, and connection in our day. We make conclusions on peoples character, devotion and relationship with God through their outward ‘performance’ and ‘presentation.’ We tend to spend way less time looking for their heart and crediting them with the work they have done in the secret places.

But….. if our hearts are growing in godliness shouldn’t our speech, actions etc. be a symbol and a sign of that internal shift?

Yes, of course….. but we can’t put the cart before the horse.

A God centred heart should always result in God focused actions but they can only be God focused actions if they come from a God centred heart.

Actions can appear God focused but they come from a self centred heart. For example, I can give money to the poor because I want people to see it so I look good or I can give money to the poor because the Lord has put compassion in my heart and I can’t not give. Truthfully, I’ve done both. The thing is, both these actions look the same but only one is God focused. What appears like a God focused action may not be representative of a God centred heart.

Actions should cause us to ask questions rather than provide us with answers. Not from cynicism but curiosity – this is important, we are not trying to catch people out.

When we see incredible leadership, gifting, sacrifice lets not jump to the wrong conclusion but be moved to view the heart. Lets ask what God is birthing in them, what they are learning and how it is growing. If we learn from that and help them tend to their heart we see more of the Kingdom coming than if we make it action based.

I pray that we would always look at the things that God sees, and not be distracted by outward appearance!