What You See Is Not What You Get

Proverbs 15:8 (KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

I think it is natural for human beings to be impressed by what they see.  We see a shiny new car and we were impressed with the beauty and the power.  We might be impressed with the finances of the person owning it.  That’s our first reaction, or usually our first reaction.  My first reaction tends to be rather short, because my second thought is, “I wonder what his payment is?”

Recently, I was in a conversation where someone was talking about a person who made habitual bad choices.  Because of bad choices he had bought a new car, had it destroyed by someone with no insurance, and was now making $800 a month payments on a car that was junked.  At that point just about anyone would cease to be impressed.

The emphasis here is not on the outward expression, but on the condition of the heart.  On one side, you have the “wicked”.  On the other side, you have the “upright”.  Since this is the Old Testament, it is very possible that the upright was also giving a sacrifice, and the wicked might’ve added a few prayers.  The thing is that God looks at the heart of the person and not just the action.

So?  Is your heart right?  Is your motive right?  Your neighbors may not know the difference, but God does.