Man Looketh on the Outward Appearance

2015-10-24

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)

We read this verse after God had rejected Saul as king, and was about to anoint His replacement, David. God sees beyond the surface and the fleshly appeal of any person, and knows the core of everyone’s innermost person. However, we want to examine the other truth in verse: that people look on the outward appearance. For good or for bad, it is true, and we want to be mindful of this as live our lives. Consider Paul’s way of being culturally relevant to those he was trying to reach:

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

In cross-cultural ministry, missionaries become “acculturated” into a new culture in order to understand how the people think, and think like they do. The missionary becomes like those who serve to a certain extent, in order not to offend, and also to gain trust and to speak to them in a way that they understand. Likewise, in our country, there are various sub-cultures across our vast land that have different values. We must learn about them and relate with them the best we can so we can be that salt and light in their lives. Let us examine the flipside:

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:15-16)

In His High-Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed for us to remain in the world, refraining from evil. So we are not asked to take on evil customs of people in order to reach them. We are not of the world, but we are in the world. The phrase “of the world” means that our source is not the world, but of God. But we are in the world, and we are His ambassadors here on earth to save people. Paul reminds us again:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Even in the mundane, we are to glorify God. If there are folks we know who have dietary restrictions because of religious beliefs, it may be best to abstain from the same. If there is something that will put a wedge between others and Christ, than we must avoid it.