056: God's Good Looking Servants

April 12, 2010
1 Samuel 16:1-13

Good looking people always intimidate me a little. I know a couple – their names are Cameron and Ashley – and they have got to be one of the best looking couples I’ve ever known. Cameron is tall, broad shouldered, tan, with perfectly styled hair, dimples, and striking eyes. Ashley is a tiny, petite little thing who looks about 15, with expertly applied make up, warm eyes, and a smile that would melt the hardest of hearts.

Together they’re like the perfect, ideal little high-school couple. Cam looks like the starting quarterback and Ash looks like the head cheerleader.

When I first met them, I thought to myself, “There is no way they can be as cool as they seem to project.” I’ve been known to be biased against really, really good looking people before. I feel like they probably always had things come fairly easily to them – because everyone tends to like nice looking people – and I figured that good looks exhibited a lack of character.

I think what’s cool about this passage in 1 Samuel is that God uses it to remind me that I really should not and cannot judge a book by its cover. I mean, I’m not sure I’m a highly looks-oriented person (expect , obviously, a prejudice against them!): I don’t own the latest styles, I know my hair always looks a little wild and wrong, I leave the house without makeup quite frequently, and my shoes are really atrocious. I am obviously not a “cool” or “in” person in a crowd. I tend to think that people who are good looking cannot possibly be in MY version of cool.

Cameron and Ashley defied that in my life, which just so happens to align with these verses. God uses people who are, by the world’s standards incredibly beautiful, just like he uses people with weird quirks (and let’s admit it, there are some quirky looking people out there…). God chose David, and David was a man after God’s own heart, AND incredibly good looking.

I don’t know why, but I just find that interesting. I guess it’s just a reminder, once again, that God can use anyone he wants to for his purpose… And, in fact, he uses everyone for his greater purpose – whether now or in the future. That’s a big thought for my little head tonight.