“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
How do you measure a person’s worth? Is it based on the size of one’s bank account? Think about incredibly influential and wealthy individuals like Bill Gates or Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; if wealth determines a person’s worth – certainly these men have achieved the height of success. Others evaluate a person based upon their stuff: clothes, cars, or technology. Still others are measured by their power and influence or simply based upon their physical attractiveness.
But how does GOD measure a person’s worth? Is it based on wealth, power, influence or looks? It’s none of the above. God looks at the inner person. God looks at the heart. When the prophet Samuel arrived at Jesse’s home to appoint the next king of Israel, he was certain Eliab was the right man for the job. Eliab was Jesse’s eldest son and certainly “looked” like a king – tall, handsome and strong. Yet God had someone else in mind: David, the Shepherd boy and the youngest. God reminded Samuel that He doesn’t judge like the world judges. God looks at a person’s heart.
In Hebrew, the “heart” refers to the inner person: one’s intellect, emotions, passions and priorities. Our heart is the essence of who we are. No one knows our heart like God does. So how is your heart? Faith in Jesus Christ can transform our hearts and lives into becoming the person God created us to be.
