And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Peter 1:17)

Saul, the first king of Israel, had good looks. People didn’t make a difficulty about having Saul as the king, because they became enamored of his figure. However, God left him, and his last came to an end with disgrace. He should have known that God doesn’t judge with respect of persons. Look at David who became a king after Saul. He is a suitable person for explaining the fact. In his childhood, his features in Goliath’s presence show how the believers win wars. How about Moses? He, a prince of Egypt, wanted to become the leader of Israel, but God didn’t use him. God called him when he is a shepherd in the Midian wilderness and lives as a shabby sheep raiser. After all, he could get Israelites to escape from Egypt.

People hope to be paid attention from others through their appearance, and they take judging with external features as read. They think a find house, a car, loud clothes, and jewelries are enhancing the value of a person. In actuality, people interest in making their toilet after having proper property, because they think that it will help to maintain their position.

However, it is an undesirable thing to Christian, and if someone does such behavior, they will get a scolding of God. Simple and neat looks is a tradition of Christian be handed down from the first generation church, and the Bible is giving a warning about that many times. It is more important to look deep into ourselves than embellish the outside.

Paul had everything; honor, money, knowledge, and power. However, he thought those are obstacles in living as Christian. He had suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dong, also he spend his last in prison, and finally he died a martyr for his faith. Nobody can say that he choose a wrong way if they are normal Christian. He was a person who knows the heart of God well. He armed his inside with strong faith even if his body was weak. Now, we, a Christian, need wisdom about where the concern of God is in.

Translation by Lee ji-hye