Only God Knows the Hearts

God told one of his most beloved servants of all time something that a lot of folks today need to take earnest heed to: “… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (I Sam. 16:7). So what is the relevance of that statement to you and I? Just that we know very little about anybody, the way God knows them. The scriptures are replete with the fact that God alone knows and weighs the hearts of men (Prov. 16:2; Prov. 21:2; I Ki. 8:39; Jer. 17:9,10; Acts 1:24; Acts 15:8). What that means for us is that our words, especially about others, should be few and without malice, degredation, or accusation. If you think you know what someone is about because of what you have seen them do wrong, be very careful my friend, because you may be dead wrong. The proverb is wisely stated that says, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Prov. 17:9). A good companion scripture to that one would be, “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). A woman who was known for anything but righteousness came into the midst of a number of highly respected religious leaders and Jesus, and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. While the religious leaders marvelled that Jesus allowed this kind of woman to touch him, he rebuked them for their judgmental spirit, and blessed her with forgiveness and favor (Lk. 7:36-50). Friend, this circumstance was not an aberration, but rather something that is found throughout the Bible; and you can rest assured that it exists today, and that you and I do not want to be in company with the minds and spirits of those Pharisees.

It is not a humble or an honest heart that dares to issue harsh judgment on others who may seem to be less wholesome than one’s self. In fact it is a proud and exalted spirit that actually would have one sit in the place of God, as if to personally know the hearts of men. Tread softly my friend, and fear the judgment of God against such foolish thoughts, words, and deeds; as the apostle Paul admonished: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:1-6). No wonder the same apostle instructed believers to “work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philip. 2:12). And no wonder that Jesus implored us with these two memorable admonitions: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again… Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Mat. 7:1,2,12). That sounds about right to me, how about you? Amen.