Over the last few weeks, God has really been challenging me about what I will call "matters of the heart". When I say, "challenging me", I mean that every day I'm being faced with situations that are forcing me to evaluate where my heart is as well as to test where the hearts of others are. As I've been doing so, I've become keenly aware of how fragile, how easily influenced and how naive the heart is. In fact, the Bible is full of warnings to us on how to handle and control our hearts and prevent them from going astray.
- Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life"
- Proverbs 23:19 - "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path"
- Proverbs 28:26 - "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered"
- John 14:27 - "Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid."
- James 4:8 - "Purify your hearts..."
In "The Love Dare", the companion book to the Christian movie "Fireproof", the authors, Stephen & Alex Kendrick, spend a whole appendix explaining why. Essentially their bottom line is this: Our hearts are "so subject to change and so utterly untrustworthy" that instead of "following our heart" as the world would advice us, the Bible tells us we must "lead our heart". In fact, they go as far as saying, "...the only time you can feel good about following your heart is when you know your heart is intent on serving and pleasing God." Wow! How's that for a real test? I mean, think about how often we're led off-track by our heart or impacted by the heart of another.
Of course, when thinking about "the heart" everyone immediately thinks of marriage and traditional love relationships, but the heart I want to discuss -- and frankly, the one the Bible passages are targeted at -- is our heart for serving God. It seems today like this dimension of the heart is often the last we talk about, but frankly, there is nothing more important. The truth is, our churches, homes and communities are filled with professing Christians, Lay Leaders and even Pastors who are doing "the work of the Lord", but whose hearts are everywhere but God-focused. Although we may feel like we're getting "A's" for effort, and praise from others, the end result is a poor reflection of the heart of God.
I think it's high time that the body of Christ start making "the heart" a priority, and being accountable to each other in the process of serving God. We need to work together to strengthen our hearts for service and guard against temptations that could lead us wrong directions. We need to make "heart" a key criteria for selecting ministry leaders ahead of technical capabilities or willingness to serve. We need to be willing to challenge people and situations and programs that don't demonstrate the heart of God in their service. We need to be willing to share our own heart struggles with each other and step out of the way if our hearts are not in the right place.
But how can we make sure our hearts are aligned with God's will? Colossians 3:1 states it clearly "...set your hearts on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God". To "set your heart" means to CHOOSE. Right here and now. Choose how you will serve God. With your heart focused on Him, there can be only one outcome -- a servant of God who:
1. Seeks nothing for yourself, but everything for God
2. Avoids emotions that tempt your heart in other directions
3. Focuses and dedicates your time in the areas that God directs first
4. Shares your heart with other Christians honestly and openly
So, when you think about it... where are you today in your service to God? Knowing the answer to that question is truly the "HEART" of the matter.
God Bless,
Jill Cohen
Vice President, Kohath Ministries, Inc.
That was a wonderfully written article Jill.
ReplyDeleteI find that, although a Christians ministry and mind should be set full time to the service of God in all areas of life, I’m afraid that is an ideal that is more the exception than the rule in the modern world for most Christians. Unless you are single person and involved in full time ministry work, it seems the heart is in a constant tug of war with the world and all of the secular connections that our adversary can use to distract us from our walk and have us in constant spiritual warfare. I’m sure it even does affect the above mentioned singles as well. This includes things like family, co-workers, children, and even some ‘well meaning’ Christian friends.
Some of that reasoning is covered by Paul in his instructions in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 concerning how and why the issues of marrying and family responsibilities wind up taking precedence in ones life. Its one of the biggest ‘dividers’ of the heart as I see it, and many people don’t understand that until they experience it. (and by then it’s too late)
How many distractions there are in this life! Which is why it is so important of course, to spend time in the Word every day and use God’s armor (Eph.6) to keep our hearts shielded from the schemes of the world.