God’s Value System

Read Proverbs 11

The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.

Proverbs 11:20

Our value system and God’s value system are often at odds. Whereas we may admire someone for his or her intelligence, beauty, athletic ability, or charisma, God may remain unimpressed. The Old Testament tells the story of Samuel going to anoint a new king of Israel after Saul had disobeyed God. Samuel came to the sons of Jesse, and he saw David’s oldest brother, Eliab, a tall, handsome man. But God spoke to Samuel, saying in part, “I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

God is not interested in anything else as much as he is interested in our hearts. It’s the place where his presence is rooted or absent in our lives. When God looks in our hearts, he wants to find integrity. May we summon the courage to give him our everything, no matter what the cost, and to be people of integrity.

A WORD FOR TODAY

God sees our “covers” and our “contents.”

Today, Lord, guard my heart from the twisted path and show me how to walk in the integrity of your ways.