The Bible uses the picture of a tree and roots to capture the connection between one’s behavior and one’s heart (Matt 7:15-20). Jesus explains that if the root is good, the fruit will be as well. If there is a bad root, the fruit will be bad. Jesus also explained how sin comes from the heart. He said, “For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person” (Mark 7:20-23).
Therefore the connection between the heart and behavior merits great time and attention. As followers of Christ, we seek to understand this connection better. If we hope to live in a way that honors God and helps us, we must pay close attention to our individual heart.
The Heart Is Active.
You have an active heart and soul with respect to the living God. The heart either chooses to love God or self. Either the heart focuses its attention on God and righteousness or evil and sinfulness (Gen 6:5). The heart never chooses neutral (Gal 5:13-26).
The Apostle Paul describes us as living out the desires of our flesh, indulging ourselves by our own desires (Eph 2:3). Jesus’ half brother James explains how we get trapped by our own desires which produces sin (James 1:14). Furthermore, the author of Hebrews points to the Scriptures as what is necessary to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12).
Putting it another way…the heart actively chooses to either love God (and neighbor) or self. One’s behavior reflects the motive and desires of the heart. As the heart focuses on something as its treasure or idol, the behavior reflects that focus. As individuals, we are under the inescapable influence of our own hearts, similar to an individual who must look through the lens of a pair of glasses or contacts.
Understanding Where Your Heart Is Focused
Who you are, what you believe, and what you want becomes visibly expressed in your manner of life or your “works.” As your heart grasps a particular identify, belief system, or desire, your attitude, words, and behavior follow suite. Your manner of living reflects whatever it is that catches the eye of the heart.
As such, our lives do fit together. Since everything we do comes from the same heart, we can expect our lives to have a central focus. Not that it is always the same central focus; however, for a season, the heart will be focused on one thing primarily. As explorers of our own hearts, we can look for an organizing theme to our heart.
Four Questions to Consider
As you begin to consider your heart, ask yourself the following four questions:
- What do I want so much that I am willing to sin to get it?
- What do I want so much that I am willing to sin if I do not get it?
- What do I want so much that I am willing to sin if I am afraid I am going to lose it?
- What do I turn to other than Christ as a refuge?
The answers to these questions help you get an idea upon what it is that your heart is focused.
Use These Active Verbs to Help You Understand Your Heart
As you ask yourself questions, arrange your questions around some of the following active verbs:
- What do I love? (Examples may include Ease? Respect? Honor? etc.?)
- What do I hate? (This is often the opposite of what is loved.)
- What do I desire? (Examples may include Attention? Control? etc.?)
- What do I fear? (Examples may include losing control? Future? etc.?)
- What do I worship? (Examples may include Friends? Family? etc.?)
As you determine what it is that you love, hate, desire, etc., then you can determine above how much it is that you love, hate, desire, etc. that particular things.
What Has Functional Control Over Your Heart?
Something exercises functional control over your heart. Of course the right answer is God. In a normally worshiping heart, the controlling desire wants to bring God glory, desires God’s will to be done, and seeks to be sensitive to and follow the love of Christ.
Using the questions above, seek now to determine what that “thing” is that exercises control over your life. At this point, you have insight.
Then, based upon your insight, do what it takes to not allow anything other than God to functionally rule our souls.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
