In one of the “All in the Family” episodes that aired some years ago, Edith and Archie are attending Edith’s high school class reunion. Edith encounters an old classmate by the name of Buck who had now become excessively obese. Edith and Buck have a delightful conversation about old times and the things that they did together, but remarkably, Edith does not seem to notice how extremely heavy Buck has become. Later, when Edith and Archie are talking, she says in her whiny voice, “Archie, ain’t Buck a beautiful person?” Archie looks at her with a disgusted expression and says, “You’re a pip, Edith. You know that? You and I look at the same guy- you see a beautiful person, and I see a blimp.” Edith gets a puzzled expression on her face and says something unknowingly profound, “Yeah, ain’t it too bad?”
The Bible is very clear about not looking on the outward appearance. Case in point is the choice of David for the future king of Israel.
1 Samuel 16:6-7
When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
His picture was included in his obituary and I recalled how many had made fun of him. He was a good person and loved people much more than they loved him. It’s too bad everyone didn’t see what a good person he was.
Think about it.
Gary