Right. But God’s best is different from the world’s best. Samuel assumed that Eliab, the first son of Jesse’s presented to him, was the best candidate for king, but God directed otherwise. 

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.” -1 Samuel 16:6-7a

While we often focus on physical appearances, God looks at the heart. In other words, God doesn’t care what your makeup looks like, how much you weigh, how tan you are, or if your nails are done. He doesn’t look at your worldly qualifications for any particular task or assignment. He cares about the condition and content of your heart. When the world evaluates outward appearance, it calculates into the equation material possessions, job title, reputation, social status, bank account, etc. But God values none of that. So what is your heart looking like these days? Are you living in such a way that suggests you value your outward appearance most? or your heart? Let’s think about this practically…

• How much time do you spend curating your outward appearance each day? each week? each month?
• How much time do you spend tending to your heart each day? each day? each month? 

When David was anointed king, he was still pretty young. Bible commentaries estimate that he was around 15 years old. So what could God have seen in a 15-year-old’s heart that deemed him fit, in God’s eyes, to rule over His chosen people? Scripture doesn’t answer this question exactly, but I’d like to venture a humble guess. I wonder if God identified David’s heart as a moldable, teachable heart. 

Think about it…. At 15, he was still a teenager who was growing and maturing—not only in his faith, but also in basic life skills. A typical 15-year-old today is maybe just starting high school, studying for her learner’s permit, and applying for her first part-time job. Even if she’s been in Sunday School and youth group at church, her knowledge and understanding of the Lord, while earnest and pure, is still just beginning its upward climb. With limited life experiences in 15 young years, even a heart that loves Jesus has a lot to learn yet. So it seems reasonable to assume that when 1 Samuel 16 says God was looking at David’s heart, it didn’t necessarily mean his heart was extremely mature and deep spiritually. (Although it could have been! I’m just speculating.) What seems more likely to me is that God looked at David’s heart and saw someone who was teachable.

Here are a few synonyms for teachable: trainable, manageable, compliant, submissive, obedient, controllable, easily influenced, open to instruction, malleable, persuadable, yielding.

Is your heart like this? David didn’t end up taking the throne for another 15 years. He was 30 when he became king, and then he ruled for 40 years. That’s a lot of years of being able to be molded and taught by God. And as you read about David’s life with his teachable heart in the back of your mind, you might see things in a new way. For example, even though David was God’s chosen king, he wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes—big ones. But when God showed him the error of his ways, David acknowledged his shortcomings and repented. His heart remained soft toward the Lord’s instruction. He was willing to be corrected and trained. Scripture does not suggest that David was a know-it-all, conceited, self-focused king. Rather, he sought after God. God actually recognized this in him before He even anointed David as the future king. 

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ -Acts 13:22

God knew David would be submissive to His will. He saw his teachable, compliant heart. The world may not place much value on something like this, but in God’s kingdom, He looks at your heart. Does this mean the world’s values are always terrible? Not necessarily. When we in the United States elect presidents, we typically aim to elect candidates who are educated, intelligent, charismatic, well-spoken, diplomatic and visionary among other things. None of these qualities are bad! But in God’s upside down kingdom, different qualities receive much higher value. God looks at the heart!

Is your heart teachable? Do your daily and weekly routines suggest that you care more about the state of your heart than your outward appearance? What quick, simple change is the Holy Spirit nudging you to make today? If you’re not sure how to move toward a heart and spirit that’s more malleable, start by praying this verse (from the Amplified Bible version) to the Lord:

Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart. -Psalm 119:34