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Her Beauty is Inward

By Billie Duty

… For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)

The above verse comes from the text where Samuel is going to anoint a new King, one to replace Saul. If we read the whole text we find that man sees differently than God, and Samuel would have chosen one of David's brothers - "… he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him!" (1 Samuel 16:6).

Verse 7a says, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him."

God does not look at:

    our clothing (filthy or fine apparel)

        our hair and make-up (plain looking or beautiful)

            the way we are built (skinny, fat, or just right)

                the color of our skin (red, yellow, black, or white)

                    that we are young or old, puny or strong!

He sees who we really are: "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) He sees inward man.

In James chapter 2 (James 2), we learn not to treat those who do not have nice things any different from those with the finest. God is not concerned with material things (Matthew 6:19-20); therefore our treasure should be the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to save souls (Romans 1:16).

There is nothing wrong with looking our best but we must focus on our hidden person, our heart (1 Peter 3:3-4). The things we say, our attitude, and our actions show others who we really are. No matter how nice we appear outwardly, we can be very ugly inside if we do not take care of our spiritual lives.

Questions:

1. When looking at others what does man see?

Ans.: for man looks at the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7b)

2. What does God look at when He looks at man?

Ans.: the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)

3. When looking at the heart or hidden person - what are we looking at or for?

Ans.: the actions, attitudes, and speech of people

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

4. Do ___ ___  your adornment be ______  outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather ___ __ __  the ______ ______ __ ___ _____ , with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is ____ _________ in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Ans.:  (a) not let   (b)  merely   (c)  let it be    (d)  hidden person of the heart  (e) very precious 

5. What is the power of God to save soul?

Ans.:  The Gospel Romans 1:16

True or False

6. God looks at man's appearance or at his physical stature. FALSE

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)

7. James 2 teaches that we should pay special attention to those who wear the finest clothing and jewelry and we should put those who come in dirty clothing out of our assemblies. FALSE

1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

8. Is it a sin to look nice, to wear nice clothes, arrange our hair, and wear jewelry? FALSE

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

9. God is concerned with material things and so should we be. FALSE

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19-21)

10. God knows and sees our hearts. TRUE

…For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)