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Careful, Not Everyone Who Looks Good Has Good Intentions (Inspired by 1 Samuel 16:7)

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Looks can deceive. Not every friend, date, or business partner who seems impressive is good for you. Some people only show up to take advantage. Learn to spot the difference before it's too late.

We've all been fooled by appearances--smooth talkers, flashy dressers, people who seem too perfect. But what matters isn't what they show on the outside, it's what's hidden in their heart. Stop falling for the same tricks.

Some of the biggest mistakes you'll ever make in life won't come from enemies, they'll come from people who looked like your friends.

They dress well.
They smell good.
They talk smooth.
They make you feel special, smart, or important.

And the next thing you know?
They've taken what they wanted--and they're gone.

This doesn't just happen in romance. It happens in:

Friendships

Business deals

Social circles

Mentorships

Even family sometimes.

You trusted them because of how they looked or how they sounded--but they were only bluffing the whole time.

Some people fall for this over and over again because they refuse to learn the lesson.

You see, as I'm writing this, I can't help but think about someone in my own family right now...
I'm not gonna name names (I still want to get invited to family parties).

All I'm saying is this:
Some of us keep this picture in our head of what honesty looks like.
We've built a whole visual of what success looks like too.

I bet you anything--that image doesn't look like Mark Zuckerberg in your mind.

That's all I'll say about that.

But the Bible gives a clear warning:

"Stop judging people by their appearance. Don't get distracted by height, beauty, or charm. People look at the outside--but God looks at the heart."

In simple words:
Looks are cheap. Character is priceless.

Here's how to protect yourself:

Don't get blinded by the packaging.
If someone's flashing money, beauty, or charm too fast, it's a red flag, not a green light.

Watch how they act, not just how they speak.
Words can lie. Actions reveal everything.

Growing up in Haiti, there was always this idea of what an "honest man" looked like.

Cloth pants.
Long sleeve shirt, neatly tucked in.
Shiny shoes.
Clean shave.

That's how people dressed to look accomplished and respectable. If you looked like that, people believed you were honest, educated, even successful. Some would fall for it without even asking questions.

There's even a classic Haitian movie that tells this exact story--I Love You Anne.

In the movie, the "bad guy" looks exactly like that--well-dressed, polished, clean-cut. Meanwhile, the good guy is a simple musician with dreadlocks, humble and soft-spoken.

Anne, the young woman, was in love with the dreadlocked musician. But her father wouldn't have it. He was blinded by appearances. He saw the well-dressed man and assumed he was the better choice.

But we all know how that turned out.

Looks can fool you.
Get to know who people are on the inside before you start trusting them.
Character always matters more than image.

Take your time before trusting.
Rushing into deals, relationships, or friendships without seeing consistency over time will cost you.

Ask yourself: Does this person only show up when they need something?
If they disappear after they get what they want, that's your answer.

There's nothing wrong with wanting good people around you, but you have to your very best to stop confusing appearance with integrity.

Let others chase status, style, and fake friends.
You focus on people with real hearts, honest intentions, and consistent actions.

Because not every shiny thing is gold--and not every smooth talker is safe.

Read 1 Samuel 16:7

Hard to believe but The Bible does address issues concerning fake friends, dating scams, deceptive people, and how looks can fool you. You just have to read it with a open mind if you want to unlock its secrets.

 

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