God looks at the heart

Romans 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

The first step to being successful is knowing what success is. The world sees it completely differently that God does, and the world is constantly trying to fit us into its mould and way of seeing things. We need to stop imitating the world and its values and start adopting God’s values and view of things.

God sent the prophet to the household of Jesse to anoint the next King of Israel, and when Jesse’s first son came in Samuel looked at him and assumed that because he was strong and manly, he would be the one, but notice what God says to the prophet:

1 Samuel 16:6-7 King James Version (KJV)
“6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Then Jesse brought all his other sons before the prophet, and one by one, they were turned down. Eventually, Samuel askes,

1 Samuel 16:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
“Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”

Who would you have chosen as king? Probably not the runt of the litter! David wasn’t a manly man like his brothers, he was a young “pretty boy” who looked after the sheep. We must realize that the world and God see things differently.

Genesis 39:2 AMPLIFIED (AMP)
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”

Joseph was a slave and yet the Bible calls him successful and prosperous. Most of us struggle to understand this; we can’t accept that someone in slavery could be successful. What’s more, we must ask the question, how did Joseph become successful and prosperous even though he was a slave? The answer confuses the world, because it is so simple: Joseph was a successful and prosperous man because the Lord was with him.

True success is in knowing God and flows out of that place of knowing Him.