Jumping to conclusions, making snap judgements and circumstantial evidence have destroyed so many relationships.
Years ago, I worked in the Dean of Students office at a local community college. I was hired to help with the new student handbook and to serve as Admin Assist. to the Dean of Students.
Our office was responsible for student ID’s, vehicle usage for the sports teams and even the campus security. We had lots of students coming and going through our office who worked on campus. But one young man in particular stood out.
I was a mature married woman of 32. I had 3 children, a husband and was a “good christian woman”. He was in his early 20’s, tattooed and pierced, looking like a character from Pirates of the Caribbean. He could have been a stand in for Johnny Depp. I judged him based on his appearance and nothing more.
After working with him for several weeks, he came in one morning, late again. When I asked why, he told me that the devil had really been working against him that morning – car wouldn’t start, flat tire, wife was sick and it had really stolen his joy. He asked me if I would pray for him throughout the day so that he could keep a good attitude and do his job well!
Oh Lord, I apologize! I judged wrongly, I wasn’t looking for the good in this man, I was looking at him through my own prejudice and I was wrong!
Why am I telling you this? Well, this morning I was continuing my read through I Samuel and Samuel made the same judgement. The Lord had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience and Samuel was sent to find and anoint a new king for Israel. He found a man, based on outward appearance, that he thought was God’s man of power for the hour.
“When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the man who the Lord has chosen.’ 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.’” I Samuel 16:6-7 ERV
And then came this young man, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd. David hadn’t even been invited to the dinner because his father had misjudged him as well.
“Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son. This son was a good-looking, healthy young man. He was very handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Get up and anoint him. He is the one.’…The Spirit of the Lord came on David with great power from that day on. Then Samuel went back home to Ramah.” I Samuel 16:12-13 ERV
Are you like me and misjudging someone based on appearance or education or some other external character? Perhaps you are the one that is the recipient of snap judgement.
Let me encourage you to ask the Lord to show you the heart of people; let the Holy Spirit love through you and see those around you as God does.