God Sees Your Value
By: Kristine Brown
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” - 1 Samuel 16:7
We sorted through trinkets and keepsakes at my mother-in-law’s house, wanting to keep it all but knowing we didn’t have the space. Four years after her passing, we still hadn’t finished the task. Yet somehow, I didn’t mind, because deciding what to keep and what to donate gave us time to reminisce.
Seeing her old hanging lamp in the corner, I told my husband to add it to the giveaway pile. If we could find a box big enough for it. It definitely wasn’t my style. Or anyone else’s in the family, for that matter. I determined the odd-looking lamp had to go, but my sister-in-law intervened.
“Maybe you should look it up and see if it’s worth anything. I think those lamps are popular right now.”
So I took her advice, looked it up online, and found one exactly like it - priced at $550 dollars. And to think I almost let it go because I didn’t see its value.
God specializes in seeing beyond appearances. He had given Samuel the important job of sorting through the sons of a man named Jesse to find the next king. God reassured Samuel that He would guide him to the right person. But after standing face-to-face with Jesse’s first son, Samuel became distracted by his looks. He needed a reminder, one we can all be encouraged by today.
God sees our value when no one else does.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
After God’s gentle correction, something changed. Samuel relied on the Holy Spirit rather than his own senses to point out God’s chosen king. All seven sons passed before him, then Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these,” and asked if he had any more sons. Enter the unassuming future King David, who had been watching over the sheep. Exactly who God had planned for the task of leading His people.
Sometimes I’m tempted to look at myself or others with a critical eye. I assess worth based on what I see. This story in chapter 16 gives me hope. Because even someone like Samuel needed help from time to time. Our human tendencies are in contrast to God’s ways. Inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us will help us resist the temptation to point out the bad and instead focus on the good we often do not see. Then we will discover the beauty God sees, in all things.
Let’s make an honest assessment today. As criticism in our world grows, are we pointing out the bad in ourselves and others? Or are we focusing on the heart? Just like my mother-in-law’s lamp, unspeakable value may be hidden beneath the surface. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the value God sees. God’s assessment is greater than we could ever imagine.
Discover more about walking in faith with resources from Kristine Brown’s Life Enrichment Library. You’ll also find weekly encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at her website, kristinebrown.net. Kristine is the author of the book, Over It. Conquering Comparison to Live Out God’s Plan, and the companion devotional for teen girls.
Looking for authentic conversations about how to deal with body image, insecurity, and comparison issues as a Christian woman? The Compared to Who? Podcast is the show for you! Twice a week, we tackle tough topics like dieting, disordered eating, weight loss, aging, body dysmorphia, and more from a practical, grace-filled, gospel-centered perspective.
Originally published Monday, 05 December 2022.
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