1 Minute Message

Guest message By Jim Lindgren

‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

‘Daddy, why is that lady so fat?’

I heard the question from the cute little girl (with the booming voice) in
the grocery line and could feel the collective inner cringe that all those
around were experiencing. The question was asked in childlike innocence, but
everyone could hear it. the cashier, those in line and also the poor woman
who was the subject of the inquiry.

The typical response was given: ‘Honey, we don’t talk about people like
that. It’s not nice.’

Instantly, however, God spoke a different message to my heart; an
illustration, one that was both simple and profound. The scene played out in
my mind as though the little girl was my own child and I was her father
speaking, but speaking the words as God provided them.

The scene played out something like this:

‘Daddy, why is that lady so fat?’

‘Sweetheart, people come in all shapes and sizes; tall ones, short ones,
skinny ones and fat ones. But that¹s only the package on the outside. It’s
what’s underneath that really counts.’

(Father takes a fancy candy from the register display.)

‘Honey, do you see this candy?’

‘Yes, Daddy. It looks yummy.’

(Father opens the candy)

‘Do you want some of this?’

‘Yes, Daddy. Please!’
(Father holds out both the wrapper and the candy.)

‘Which one do you want?’

‘Silly Daddy, that one!’ (She points to the candy.)

‘Why not this one?’ (He holds the wrapper out.)

‘Because that¹s just the wrapper.’

‘You’re right, sweetie. That’s just the wrapper. Just like some of us are
tall or short, fat or skinny, that¹s just the wrapper. The real treasure is
on the inside.’

‘Oh, I get it Daddy! Hey, Daddy?’

‘Yes, dear?’

‘Can I have the candy now?’

Let us remind ourselves that the true worth and value of any person rests
not with the outward appearance; in physical attributes, brand of clothing,
what jewellery they wear or what car they drive. True worth and value rests
instead in the inner man, where God has imparted and hidden away the
greatest of His created treasures; a masterpiece carefully protected in a
most unlikely vault, one made out of an earthen vessel.

Dr. Jim Lindgren is president and founder of Window of Hope and an
ordained minister.