Our opinions, our assessments, our evaluations of people . . . are skewed. We view them through the gazes of flesh and blood and often forget to wear our specially designed spiritually-formed glasses which reveal the underlying conflicts of a human being. Not only have we used our skewed vision to size up others, that very same vision has been used upon us.
Two people in a room. Two females. One very pretty by anyone’s standard, standing erect, confident. The other one slouching, a little overweight, very pretty eyes if anyone gets that far, a bad hair cut with plain brown hair. Depending on your personal weaknesses and strengths, if you had to choose in a moment’s notice to befriend one of them, to choose one of them for your “team”, ladies, which one would it be? Well, if you have a lot of insecurities, you might choose the second female because she wouldn’t challenge your self-worth. However, you could instead choose the pretty one because she might contribute to your self-worth by your association to one who is so attractive.
Two males in a room. The first one is tall, broad shoulders, looks like he sports a solid six-pack under that white T-shirt with a serious but non-threatening expression. Second guy is pudgy, hair a little too long in front often dropping into his eyes. His white short-sleeved shirt is wrinkled in several places as are his khaki-colored baggy slacks which are a little too long for his 5’ 6” frame. Men, who do you choose to join you, your “team”?
Yes, of course it depends on what this so-called “team” is supposed to accomplish. But to deny that looks often play a part in our selection of people to join us, help us, or however they might end up fitting into our lives, would be unrealistic.
God writes that He is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t use the same factors to evaluate people because He knows them from the inside out. His vision goes straight to the heart. There can be no ignoring He enjoys variety, that He has fun in creation, that what we find “attractive” means nothing to Him. So ask yourself as I have recently, “Do I want to see through God’s eyes?” Well, of course, we can’t exactly, but we can ask to look at people with His vision. To look beneath the varied exteriors and probe for the heart-kind of person that they are. We all know the weaknesses of our own wickedness. Sometimes we don’t like others because we see our weaknesses so pronounced in them. Or sometimes we love others because we feel a kinship to their weaknesses.
While we cannot condone our sins or the sins of others, neither can we just look at the sin and not the person. Who would want to be judged totally by our worst offenses? This does not mean to misconstrue evil. Some are bent toward the destruction of others, taking up the purposes and plans of the evil one. Discernment is available to all those who are washed in the precious Blood of Christ, and it is an essential tool in today’s world.
I’m just pointing out that oftentimes what we value and assess in people can be invalid. We’re using the wrong measurement, the incorrect scales. Seeing with the eyes of the flesh can be misleading as to where the human heart dwells. Like the crooked picture on a wall, we attempt to straighten it. There’s nothing wrong with the picture itself—it’s how the picture is hung. Remember this the next time you take a skewed look at an individual.
Father, we do want to look at others the way you see them. We should find comfort in your being able to see us clothed in the precious robes of righteousness, purchased by the Blood of your Son. Thank you, Jesus. Help us, Holy Spirit, to see through the holy eyes of God when looking upon your creation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
*Please continue to pray for Kristy Dykes and her family.*