Jumping to conclusions, making snap judgements and circumstantial evidence has destroyed so many relationships.
I know I’ve told you this story before, but it bears repeating. Years ago, I worked in the Dean of Students office at GCC. I was hired to help with the new student handbook and to serve as Admin 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 but one young man in particular stood out.
I was a mature married woman of 35. 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. (Now, I’m twice that age and occasionally I still jump to conclusions.)
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!
The Bible reminds us to look at people the way God does.
The Lord chose a young teenager to become king of Israel. Jesus saw four burly fisherman and called them to be disciples; He also chose a tax collector. Just yesterday we were talking about being chosen by God. We don’t need to be qualified; we need to be willing.
“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 16:5-7 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.’ 13 Samuel took the horn with the oil in it, and poured the special oil on Jesse’s youngest son in front of his brothers. 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
Have you been like me and misjudged someone based on appearance, education or some other external character? Perhaps you are like David, the one who is the recipient of snap judgement.
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. Jumping to conclusions isn’t good exercise.