FOR MAN LOOKETH ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.1 Samuel 16:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 17 - 23

One of the most MISUNDERSTOOD portions of the bible is 1 Samuel 16:7a, it says for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. A lot of us have read this and interpreted it as, all that matters is the HEART not the OUTWARD appearance. Firstly, the bible did not say that God ignores the OUTWARD appearance and focuses on the HEART.  He looks at both the HEART (1 Samuel 16:7) and the OUTWARD appearance.  1 Samuel 2:3 says talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Secondly, what is inside will show outside. A lunatic is mad on the inside but it shows on the outside. How about demonic possession? The mad man of Gadara was mad on the inside, he had a legion demon residing in him and it showed on the outside (Mark 5:1-19). This man refused to live with humans; he chose the burial ground as his abode. He was so mad, no one could bind him. His problems were an internal one but it manifested on the outside.  

Likewise when one is filled with the Spirit of God, it will show on the outside. Saul was an aggressive Pharisee; he hated Christ with a passion, he committed a lot of his followers to prison for doing nothing but the moment he received the Holy Spirit, the whole world knew, by what they saw on the outside. Paul (former Saul) became an incurable soul winner; he went out and told everyone who cared to listen about Christ.  1 Samuel 19:7 says But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. When the Lord said for man looketh on the outward appearance, what He was saying is that, man (man and woman) judges by what they can see. The reason is that, they can’t see the heart so they look for the things they can see.  The only way, people around you will know whether you are lying or telling the truth about your salvation is by your OUTWARD appearance or what they can see e.g. the companies you keep, the way you talk, how you conduct yourself, your mode of dressing, etc.  An unsaved fellow knows he is not saved but he expects to see proofs that you have really given your life to Christ. If he is not convinced that you are saved, maybe because of the way you dress or your conduct, that means the Lord cannot use you to witness to him. What are we contributing to Christ if our lives can’t bring people to Jesus?

NOTE: If you claim that you are saved and the world cannot see the change in you, then you have work on your hands.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.