God Looks On the Heart... Right?...

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks 

at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."   

Source

What a beautiful verse of scripture!  But sadly it is often quoted 

to mean what it never said.  This verse is not saying that the Lord 

looks only at the heart and that our outward appearance is of little consequence. 

Rather, the context of this verse in I Samuel is about something else.  

Samuel is to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse.  

When the first one - Eliab - was presented - Samuel assumed from his 

appearance and physical stature alone that he was the one.  

But God tells Samuel to not use someone's physique to determine 
who would make a good king or if someone was 'good enough' 
for the Lord.   The whole verse reads.... 

 
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical 

stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; 

for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

This verse does not suggest that we need not be concerned 
about our outward appearance or if we are modest in apparel or not.
   Modesty is actually a heart and clothing issue.
 
God mentions clothing and adorning or
 covering our bodies numerous times in scripture. 

He intentionally covered Adam and Eve in the garden after all.

In 1 Timothy (see sidebar) He specifically mentions apparel... 

"that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, 

with propriety and moderation...."

So while modesty begins in the heart and God knows and 
looks at the motives of the heart - it can't stop there.
  What's in the heart will shine forth and be visible!

May your cup runneth over ~ Joyce

Linking to Modest Monday