Monday, January 31, 2011

At First Sight? Nah!

1 Samuel 16: 7
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

One of my first struggles as a music missionary in Windsong is the discovery of my pool of supporters. I have no problem serving His church for free. As a pastor’s kid, I’ve been raised doing that. But to take that step and invite people to partner with me, to carry the same burden I have and feel,  to trust me with their allotted offering to God, is just faith-stretching. I have to admit, I tried running and reasoning, but both later surfaced as pride. Next issue is the logical inclination to approach people on the basis of their economic status. But all the more God surprised me by providing through ravens and widows. It’s so humbling, and heart-melting.

Samuel saw Eliab’s appearance and height and considerably thought him as Israel’s next king. With Saul as only standard, we could have given him our votes too. But Saul failed as king. Shouldn’t we look through where we faltered too? There’s no hiding the fact that ‘man looks at the appearance’. It’s a depraved given. Charm before character, craving before calorie counting, credentials before commitment. We are not saying here that physical appearance is all-wrong. God created beauty for His glory. Even David was mentioned here as having fine and handsome features. As stand-alone factor to qualify him as king, it wouldn’t suffice. Not even for the position of being one’s lifetime partner or as company manager, right? But God saw his heart, and it beats after His’. We couldn’t see one’s heart in one sitting. There’s just no thing as love at first sight. You have to work on your relationship, spend time with him, get to know him. David’s faithfulness in taking care of those little sheep made him the perfect Shepherd for God’s bigger flock. What God saw in time, we want in an instant. No wonder we're just getting skin deep.

How about God? Do we know His heart or just His name? Do we thank Him for now but trust Him not for tomorrow? Shall we accept only good things from His hand, and not trouble? Faith sees beyond the externals, the obvious, and sometimes, even the sensible. For where His ways are boundless, the purposes of His heart and His steadfast love is forever. Take time. It’s the only way we’ll hear a heart tick!
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At First Sight? Nah!

1 Samuel 16: 7
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

One of my first struggles as a music missionary in Windsong is the discovery of my pool of supporters. I have no problem serving His church for free. As a pastor’s kid, I’ve been raised doing that. But to take that step and invite people to partner with me, to carry the same burden I have and feel,  to trust me with their allotted offering to God, is just faith-stretching. I have to admit, I tried running and reasoning, but both later surfaced as pride. Next issue is the logical inclination to approach people on the basis of their economic status. But all the more God surprised me by providing through ravens and widows. It’s so humbling, and heart-melting.

Samuel saw Eliab’s appearance and height and considerably thought him as Israel’s next king. With Saul as only standard, we could have given him our votes too. But Saul failed as king. Shouldn’t we look through where we faltered too? There’s no hiding the fact that ‘man looks at the appearance’. It’s a depraved given. Charm before character, craving before calorie counting, credentials before commitment. We are not saying here that physical appearance is all-wrong. God created beauty for His glory. Even David was mentioned here as having fine and handsome features. As stand-alone factor to qualify him as king, it wouldn’t suffice. Not even for the position of being one’s lifetime partner or as company manager, right? But God saw his heart, and it beats after His’. We couldn’t see one’s heart in one sitting. There’s just no thing as love at first sight. You have to work on your relationship, spend time with him, get to know him. David’s faithfulness in taking care of those little sheep made him the perfect Shepherd for God’s bigger flock. What God saw in time, we want in an instant. No wonder we're just getting skin deep.

How about God? Do we know His heart or just His name? Do we thank Him for now but trust Him not for tomorrow? Shall we accept only good things from His hand, and not trouble? Faith sees beyond the externals, the obvious, and sometimes, even the sensible. For where His ways are boundless, the purposes of His heart and His steadfast love is forever. Take time. It’s the only way we’ll hear a heart tick!