How to Evaluate a Person? 1 Samuel 16:7

 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’"

#1 Even Samuel Needed God's Guidance

When the Prophet Samuel was sent to anoint a new king, he initially judged by outward appearance. Even a great prophet needed God’s guidance to see beyond what human eyes perceive. This reminds us that wisdom does not come from personal judgment alone but from seeking the Lord. If Samuel needed God’s direction, how much more do we?

The lesson here is that anyone, regardless of their intelligence or experience, can do extraordinary things if they rely on God for guidance and help.

#2 Evaluating a Person – It’s About the Heart

Since we cannot see a person’s heart like God does, how do we discern true character? The heart is revealed through:

• Character – Values, principles, and consistency.
• Mindset – Wisdom, knowledge, and aspirations.
• Resilience – The ability to remain calm under stress.

Both biblical wisdom and classical philosophy provide insights into character evaluation:

Sun Zi’s Five Attributes of a True Leader:

1. Wisdom (智) – Sound judgment and understanding.
2. Trustworthiness (信) – Integrity and reliability.
3. Love (仁) – Compassion and care for others.
4. Guts (勇) – Courage in difficult situations.
5. Discipline (严) – Self-control and orderliness.

Mencius’ Concept of a "True Gentleman" (大丈夫):

In Mencius’ view, a "true gentleman" (大丈夫) is someone who possesses awe-inspiring moral integrity (浩然之气), a fearless spirit, and a strong sense of responsibility. He believes that a true gentleman is not defined by external appearance but by inner moral cultivation and strength of character.

The Principles of Mencius’ "True Gentleman"

• A true gentleman does not judge by rank or power, but acts according to the principles of benevolence (仁), righteousness (义), and propriety (礼).
• A true gentleman embodies a fearless spirit, willing to stand firm even against overwhelming opposition (“Even if ten thousand stand against me, I shall go forward” – 虽千万人，吾往矣).
• A true gentleman embraces a strong sense of responsibility, believing "If I do not take the lead in bringing order to the world, who else will?" (如欲平治天下，当今之世，舍我其谁也).
• A true gentleman possesses awe-inspiring moral integrity (浩然之气), a righteous and unyielding spirit.

A person of true character:

• Cannot be corrupted by wealth or status.
• Cannot be swayed by poverty or hardship.
• Cannot be subdued by force or power.
• Acts according to righteousness rather than seeking personal gain.

#3 How Can We Tell?

Since we cannot see the heart directly, a person’s actions over time reveal their true nature. Ancient wisdom offers practical ways to observe character:

The Eight Observations (八观)

• When one is in a position of influence, observe whom they respect. (通则观其所礼)
• When one is in power, observe whom they promote. (贵则观其所进)
• When one is wealthy, observe whom they support. (富则观其所养)
• When one is listening, observe how they act. (听则观其所行)
• When one is at rest, observe what they love. (止则观其所好)
• When one is learning, observe what they say. (习则观其所言)
• When one is in poverty, observe what they refuse to accept. (穷则观其所不受)
• When one is in a lowly position, observe what they refuse to do. (贱则观其所不为)

The Six Tests (六验)

• Test a person's integrity by offering them joy. (喜之以验其守)
• Test a person's uprightness by indulging them in pleasure. (乐之以验其僻)
• Test a person's self-control by provoking their anger. (怒之以验其节)
• Test a person's composure by instilling fear. (惧之以验其持)
• Test a person's true nature by subjecting them to sorrow. (哀之以验其人)
• Test a person's determination by putting them through hardship. (苦之以验其志)

Jesus also taught that a person is known by the fruit of their life:
"By their fruit, you will recognize them… Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Matthew 7:16-17)

#4 The Best Way – Ask God

Since people change based on circumstances like wealth, power, and hardship, human judgment alone is unreliable. That is why we must ultimately ask God for wisdom and discernment in evaluating others and ourselves.

James 1:5 reminds us:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

#5 Don't Use People – Be a Blessing to Others

Instead of seeing people as instruments for our benefit, we should ask:

• How can I help others grow?
• How can I mentor and encourage?
• How can I build people up rather than use them for my own gain?

Jesus set the ultimate example by serving rather than seeking to be served. If we want to evaluate others properly, we must first cultivate a heart of love and service ourselves.

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Application Questions:

1. Do I judge people by their appearance, achievements, or social status?
2. How do I react in times of joy, hardship, or fear? What does this reveal about my own character?
3. Am I actively seeking God's guidance in discerning the people I trust and follow?
4. How can I be a mentor, helper, or encourager in someone else’s life today?

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A Short Prayer:

"Lord, give me the wisdom to see beyond appearances and discern the true heart of a person. Help me not to judge by status or outward success, but by character and righteousness. May I seek Your guidance in every relationship and be a blessing to others, just as Christ has been a blessing to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

p.s. This devotion was done with the help of ChatGPT.

See and Choose Clearly - The obvious way is wrong!

 See and Choose Clearly - The obvious way is wrong!

Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

• The obvious and easy and wide road leads to death!
• The narrow gate and road lead to life.

Truth is always narrow. It cannot be anything that everyone wishes it to be; everyone wants different things.

Someone says the world is round, so if you go east or go west, you will reach it.  That's true, but you cannot go north or south to reach it. Even a small deviation from East or West will miss it.

Truth is truth and is not based on our feelings or our wishes. It cannot be politicized. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who do not go by the truth or facts and do not wear masks end up catching it and dying from it.

So, always go by the truth and choose based on the truth and not on your feelings or wishes.

Only Jesus claimed to die your sin and give you the new life that you need.

It is a narrow choice but it leads to life.  John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We just need to validate whether Jesus' saying is the truth.

Then the decision will be obvious. What's your choice?

The Combined Output From ChatGPT & DeepSeek:

See and Choose Clearly – The Obvious Way is Wrong!

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Reflection: 

• Life presents countless choices, yet not all paths lead to the same destination. Jesus’ teaching reminds us that the way to life is often not the most obvious or popular one. The narrow gate symbolizes truth—fixed, unchanging, and often challenging to follow. Unlike the wide road that appeals to our desires or the majority’s opinion, the narrow path requires humility, discernment, and obedience to God's word.
• Truth cannot be molded to fit our preferences. Just as the round Earth follows precise laws—where going east or west will eventually circle the globe, but going north or south will not—the truth is absolute, not relative. Small deviations from truth can lead us far from the intended destination.
• The example of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how rejecting facts, even when inconvenient, carries consequences. Scientific truth demanded action, regardless of personal feelings or wishes. Similarly, God's truth calls for trust and obedience, even when it goes against our instincts or the world’s advice.
• Jesus' claim in John 14:6 that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” leaves no room for multiple paths to God. While this truth is exclusive, it is not harsh—it is rooted in God's love, offering eternal life to all who seek Him. Yet, it’s also important to approach truth with both conviction and grace. While the narrow road requires commitment, Jesus demonstrated patience with those who struggled to believe (John 20:24-29). Holding firmly to truth should never lead to arrogance, but rather a heart that is compassionate toward others who are searching.

Application:

• Seek truth through prayer and studying God's Word, not based on feelings or popular opinions.

• Validate Jesus' claim by exploring His life, teachings, and resurrection with an open heart.

• Show compassion to others who are still seeking, remembering how Jesus patiently guided those with doubts.

• Choose the narrow road in daily decisions—living with integrity, humility, and love even when it’s difficult.

• Balance conviction with empathy—be firm in truth while engaging others with grace and understanding.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Your truth to us. Help us to see clearly in a world that often obscures what is right. Give us courage to choose the narrow path, trusting that it leads to life. Strengthen our faith as we seek to know You more deeply and extend Your love to those still searching. Let Your truth shape our choices, our hearts, and our lives. May we walk in both wisdom and love, standing firm in Your Word while showing grace to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Father in Heaven,
Guide my steps to the narrow gate—the path of truth, even when it’s hard.
Give me courage to choose Your way over the world’s clamor,
Discernment to see beyond fleeting desires,
And humility to surrender my will to Yours.
Thank You for Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life.
Fix my heart on Him, and let my choices reflect His love.
In His name, Amen.

Giving Rightly to Receive Abundantly - Proverbs 3:9-10 & 2 Cor 10:10

Giving Rightly to Receive Abundantly

Proverbs 3:9-10 New Living Translation
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

#1 Who you honor or invest in makes all the difference.

It is the Lord who you should honor. We tend to think that we earn all by our own effort. We forgot it was the Lord that make our earning possible. The Lord is the unknown or unrecognize provider of all things in the environment that we make work and earn our living.

2 Cor 10:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

It is the Lord who created the seeds, giving life to them, that we may bake our bread.

#2 It is the Lord that Multiplies our Ability and Earnings.

Our storage will be filled and even overflow with grains and wine.

Our Lord is generous. He will give more than we ask Esp 3:20.

#3 It is Our Righteousness that brings the Harvest (2 Cor 10:10)

The Chinese I-Ching says, 利者，义之和也。Profits come from harmozing with righteousness.

Honoring the Lord with our wealth is a righteous act that brings great rewards.

DeepSeek & ChatGPT:

Devotion: Giving Rightly to Receive Abundantly

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:10

Introduction

Giving is an act of worship. When we honor God with our wealth, we acknowledge Him as the ultimate Source of every blessing. These verses challenge us to trust God’s provision, reject self-sufficiency, and embrace generosity as a pathway to His abundance.

Key Reflections

1. Honor God First (Proverbs 3:9)

God asks for the “best part” of what we produce—not leftovers. Just as the ancient Israelites offered the firstfruits of their harvest, we honor God by prioritizing Him in our finances, time, and talents. This act of surrender declares, “You are Lord over all I have.”

Ask yourself: Do I give God my “first” or my “leftover”?

We often believe our earnings come solely from our own efforts, forgetting that it is God who enables us to work and earn a living. As 2 Corinthians 9:10 reminds us, “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” God is the unseen Provider of all things, giving life to the seeds we sow. Recognizing this truth shifts our perspective from self-reliance to honoring Him first.

2. Trust His Multiplication (Proverbs 3:10)

God’s promise to “fill your barns” is not a transactional guarantee but an invitation to faith. Like a farmer who sows seed trusting the rain and soil to bring growth, we give trusting God to multiply our offerings in ways we may not foresee—spiritually, relationally, or materially. Our Lord is generous and can do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Ask yourself: Do I truly believe God can do more with my obedience than I can with my control?

3. Righteousness Fuels the Harvest (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Paul reminds us that God supplies “seed to the sower.” Our generosity is never rooted in our own abundance but in His faithfulness. When we align our giving with His heart—to bless others and advance His kingdom—He enlarges our capacity to sow even more.

As an old Chinese proverb says, “Profits come from harmonizing with righteousness” (利者，义之和也). Honoring the Lord with our wealth is a righteous act that brings great rewards. When we give with the right motives, trusting in His provision rather than seeking personal gain, our lives overflow with His blessings.

Ask yourself: Am I giving to impress, to earn, or to reflect God’s heart?

Application Questions

1. Examine your priorities: What does your spending/giving reveal about who or what you trust most?

2. Act on surrender: Is there an area (finances, time, gifts) where you’ve withheld your “best” from God? How can you adjust?

3. Trust beyond logic: What step of generosity feels risky right now? How might God use it for His purposes?

4. Reflect on motives: Do you give joyfully, or with hesitation? What does this reveal about your view of God’s character?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being my Provider. Forgive me for clinging to what I call “mine,” forgetting that all I have is Yours. Today, I choose to honor You with my firstfruits—my resources, time, and talents. Break my grip on fear and self-reliance. Teach me to give boldly, knowing You multiply what is sown in faith. Fill my life with Kingdom-purpose, and let my generosity overflow to bless others and glorify You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Give, and it will be given to you… pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” – Luke 6:38