The teacher presents two boxes before the class.  One box is beautifully decorated and the other box is quite ordinary and not decorated at all.  [Or two bags can be used, one decorated very nicely like a gift bag and the other an ordinary paper bag.]

Each box holds a container or a bowl.  In the beautifully decorated box you need to put in the container something that is not so nice.  I put a glass bowl containing dog food, cat food and I used cod liver oil as added gravy.

In the ordinary box you need to put in the container something that is very nice.  I put several pieces of candy, a large lollipop and some very nice fruit.

Tell the class that each box contains something and ask them which box they think contains something nice.  They will probably judge by outward appearance and choose the nicely decorated box.  They will be very surprised when you reveal the contents.

[If for some reason they choose the ordinary box, you can commend them for not making their choice just based on outward appearance, because sometimes we can be fooled by what something looks like on the outside.]

Application (1 Samuel 16:7):   God does not see as man sees.  Man looks on the outward appearance.  [Oh what a beautiful box.  That must contain something very nice.]  Man sees what is on the outside and he doesn't really see what is on the inside.   God sees differently.  God knows what is on the inside.   God sees the heart.  God knows our hearts.

Sometimes people can fool us.  They can give a good impression on the outside and they can sometimes hide what is on the inside.  But God knows what is on the inside; God knows the heart.  And no one can fool Him.

Listen to God's Word, "for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). 

What is really wonderful is when a person is healthy and right on the inside.  Such inner health and rightness will show forth on the outside as well.   David had a special relationship with the Lord; he was a man after God's own heart!

Return to More Object Lessons (Index Page)