Proverbs Chapter 13: Verses 6-7 (NIV-UK)
Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
1 Samuel Chapter 16: Verse 7 (NIV-UK)
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.”
Why is it that we are often not happy with our own appearance or circumstances and work so hard to change them, or at least even pretend that things are not as they really are? My brother as a child had a mass of curls in his red hair, but was always keen to keep his hair as short and straight as possible. His daughter inherited the red curls, and she too prefers her hair straight, whilst I would have swapped my thick, dark hair for theirs in an instant. Although truth be told I am very happy now with the arctic silver colour which my hair is now!
Perhaps it’s the move towards posting much of our life and achievements on social media, we want things to look just right and would never dream of posting an unflattering photo of ourselves, or of a burned meal, or a DIY disaster.
It seems even in King Solomon’s day people were still putting a face on things, pretending to be something that they weren’t. But God isn’t interested in things just for appearance’s sake. He wants us to walk a life of integrity, and that means warts and all if necessary. That way people can trust us, knowing that we are being completely honest. Even with our own story as a Christian we shouldn’t try to airbrush away all the times we have messed up. For one, it gives people the wrong impression that it’s always easy to live the Christian life, and two, it denies the goodness and grace of God when in fact it is He who restores and forgives us when we do mess up. After all it’s the message of forgiveness and grace that people need to hear.
And we are reminded in the verse from 1 Samuel that we can’t fool God by pretending to be something that we’re not. He’s not interested in our outward appearance but in the attitude of our heart. Also, He knows all about us. Nothing takes Him by surprise or shocks Him and He is still prepared to help us providing we are open and honest with Him.
Dear Lord,
I’m so thankful that we come to You just as we are, and You don’t turn us away. You help us to change our attitude and behaviour after we come to You, and don’t turn us away when we feel that we have failed. Help me to walk with integrity and be willing to share how You have moved in my life and heart when I haven’t been as faithful as I should have been. Thank You for changing us little by little and still loving us when we do things that we shouldn’t. Help me to look past the outward appearances of others and see the real person. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.