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Not All That Glitters is Gold

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

I always enjoy a good laugh on my way to work it seems to lessen the drudgery of the morning commute. I was not disappointed this morning as I fell in line behind a motorcycle. I admit I don’t know much about motorcycles and even less about the biker culture, but there are some things that I think would be glaringly obvious.

The bike, rather small in size, was bedazzled with grinning skulls and chrome. Its rider was painted with tattoos and clad in ragged jeans and a sleeveless denim jacket. Atop the rider’s head was a Pickelhaube. ( I don’t know about you, but the sight of the spiked topped helmet on anyone is pretty funny.)

He played the part to perfection, revving the engine and leaning deep into the curves as if he was really the Dragon’s Tail. It was obvious that this rider was at least in his mind a menace to society in general.

I followed this cycle through the tunnels, down the incline to the red light. As we slowed to a stop he switched lanes and with all the macho he could muster he poised himself. I glanced over to take one more look before I went my way and he his. As I did I noticed that beneath the chrome and cross bones he was riding a Honda. He turned his well-rehearsed scowl and knitted eyebrows to me and stared in the hope of intimidating.

Intimidation? No.

Peals of laughter? Oh yes!

This Honda riding wannabe was much less intimidating and more humorous than he ever wanted to be.

I admit there have been times that I have tried to be someone I was not. I am sure it was apparent to everyone around me, but unfortunately not to me.

Sometimes, we spend so much time trying to convince others of who we are we get lost in the charade.

God, however, is not interested in the shell, but His focus is on the heart. When Samuel was sent to anoint the new king that would take Saul place, he was told what to look for in Samuel 16:7

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

Samuel went to the house of Jesse as directed by God to find this new king of Israel. Jesse paraded all seven of his sons before Samuel but they were not who God wanted. Finally, Samuel asked Jesse if there were any more sons and he answered.

“Yes, David is out with the sheep”.

David was a shepherd and the youngest. Probably a bit scrawny and still wet behind the ear, but he loved God. Jesse forgot about him. He figured that the kid in no way looked like a king. I am sure that if we saw him out in the field, dirty, smelly and chasing lambs, “king” would be the last word to cross our minds.

However, what God saw was a heart that loved Him.

As a society we spend money and time making the outside look good. We work hard to promote how we want the world to see us but spend very little time on what really matters and that is the heart.

Whether it is teen boys sporting drooping pants or adults struggling to keep up with the credit card payments, we lend most of our focus to the outward appearances. Where is your focus? Is it on the latest fashions and what is trending? Or is it on the heart and how you can grow in your relationship with God? Do you as much time grooming your heart with prayer and Bible reading as you do your coif?

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:28