Your Heart Matters
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5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
CHILDREN’S MOMENTHave you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up?
9 In your heart you plan your life. But the Lord decides where your steps will take you.
NIrV9 In your heart you plan your life. But the Lord decides where your steps will take you.
Sometimes what we think we want to be when we grow up changes. I always thought I would be an Attorney when I was growing up—my Mom said it was because I liked to argue.
[Ask these questions]
What would you like to be when you grow up? How will you feel if God has a different plan?
Having big dreams for your future is a great thing! It keeps us focused on pursuing our dreams. But if God has another dream for you, trust Him it will not only be better, because he knows you better than you can ever know yourself.
Introduction
Introduction
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. 11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Your Heart Matters
Have you ever made a bad financial decision, then tried to justify it, rather than admit it was just a dumb decision?
I had a car that was nearly paid off, and decided to trade it in for a cheaper car with better gas mileage. I really didn’t think thru the process and made the trade. Afterwards, I did the math figured out it would take 20 years before I made up the difference.
Another time my phone battery kept dying every day, so I rather than spend $60 on a new battery, I spent $300 on a new phone! It just made sense, to me; I’m not sure what kind of sense, it was a good idea at the time.
Or the battery on our cellphone no longer lasts a full day. So we decide to pick up an iPhone, even though the iPhone costs $300 and a new battery would have cost $60. “It just made sense,” we say. What kind of sense? “Cents” or “sense”?
More and more these days, I hear from people who ask, “How did I end up on this path? How did I get here? Why did God let me get into this situation in the first place?”
This past week I’ve had several people say, “How did I end up on this path? How did I get here? Why did God let me get into this situation in the first place?”
I remind They got there because they “kept on going!” And, God tried to get them on the right path, but they were determined to do it their way!
Andy Stanley, the author of The Path wrote,
“Our problem rarely stems from a lack of information or insight. It’s something else. Something we don’t outgrow. Something that another academic degree won’t resolve. Our problem stems from the fact that we are not on a truth quest. That is, we don’t wake up every morning with a burning desire to know what’s true, what’s right, what’s honorable. We are on a happiness quest. We want to feel happy. And our quest for happiness often trumps our appreciation for and pursuit of what’s true.” (The Path, p. 57)
Why Do We Find Ourselves on the Wrong Path?
Two reasons, most often:
Our heart is on a happiness-quest, not a truth-quest.
Our heart chooses the happy-now path rather than the happy-later path.
Isn’t that true?
REVIEW
REVIEW
“Now I understand why you may take exception to that. But stay with me for just a couple of more pages while I make my case. Let’s start with coffee drinkers. What is that all about? My coffee of choice costs about four bucks a cup. That’s ridiculous. Inexcusable in light of the needs of the world today. That’s eighty dollars a month if I skip weekends. I could sponsor two more kids through Compassion International for less than that. What’s wrong with me? Well, I’m on a happiness quest. And soy lattes contribute to my happiness. In fact, as I learned a few years ago when I quit drinking coffee for a few months, my soy lattes contribute to the happiness of my staff as well. I actually had a key staff member call me aside and tell me in no uncertain terms that I was more fun to be around when I was drinking coffee. That’s all the excuse I needed.” (pp. 57-58)
“As smart as we are and as aware as we are that life is connected and that decisions today shape the experiences of tomorrow, we still don’t wake up in the morning in search of truth, insight, and enlightenment. We get up and do the things that make us happy. We are all on a happiness quest. And I don’t think that’s necessarily wrong. Fortunately, there is a great deal of overlap between doing what’s right and wise and doing what makes us happy. For example, my wife loves to exercise. And that makes me happy. But that’s not really the point, is it? Exercise – something that is good for my wife’s current and future health – is something she enjoys. So in that case, pursuing something that makes her happy is a good thing. But she would be quick to tell you that chocolate makes her happy as well. Happier than exercise. Pursuing that happy-path every day would not be a good thing. It’s these forks in the road – or for our purposes – forks in the path – that make things complicated. When happiness points in one direction while wisdom, truth, integrity and common sense point in another, that’s when really smart people start doing really stupid things. That’s when the happiness quest becomes dangerous. That is the underlying reason we intentionally choose paths that will not take us to where we ultimately want to go, regardless of our SAT scores.” (pp. 58-59.)
Are you getting this? Are you agreeing with this? Great, let’s pray before I point you towards a solution.
Father in heaven, speak to us through Scripture and your Holy Spirit. Speak to us in ways that help us. Speak to us in ways that change us. Speak to us clearly—we are listening. Speak now we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
REVIEW
Earlier this month, when we started this series, we said, “Your direction determines your destination.”
Last week we saw, prudent people switch paths when they see trouble coming, and the simple keep on going.
We saw prudent people make course corrections, even when it requires enormous energy and determination to get on the right path.
The prudent see danger and take refuge, while the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Solomon diagnosed this problem 3,000 years ago, it’s the same problem we have today. Apparently, people back then weren’t too different from people today. In , Solomon provides a solution to the happiness quest…
Apparently, people back then weren’t too different from people today. In , Solomon gave a solution to the happiness quest…
Read this out loud with me:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
According to Solomon, God will make your paths straight if you do two things (Vs. 5-6):
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
According to Solomon, God will make your paths straight if you do two things (Vs. 5-6):
(1) Trust in the Lord, not in your own understanding. (2) Acknowledge God and His ways.
Trust in the Lord, not in your understanding
Trust in the Lord, not in your understanding
In every area of life, in every possible path, Solomon tells us to “trust God with ALL our heart, and NOT to lean on our own understanding!”
5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
The answer to choosing the right path is to trust God!
Go where he asks you to go, do what he asks you to do, and to do it EVERY DAY! This is not a one-time thing. It is a path walked every day of your life.
Place all your confidence, all your faith, all your hope, all your plans in God.
The challenge I face as I walk my path every day is: (1) NOT TO LEAN on what MY heart says is right, (2) NOT on what MY heart wants to do, (3) NOT on MY understanding of the path— BUT TO LEAN ON GOD!
How many times have you said to someone, “Just go with what your heart is telling you”? Or “Follow your heart.” Most of us have said that, haven’t we?
That might be bad advice, because the prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things...” ().
The ONLY way we can lean on our heart is if it is in tune with God’s heart!
When Jeremiah said the heart is deceitful he meant our hearts can lie to us! Nearly every time we want to do something that feels good short term, but we know is not good for us long term, our heart comes up with reasons to do it anyway!
Do you know what he meant by that? He meant sometimes our hearts lie to us. Almost every time we want to do something that feels good short term that we intuitively know is not good for us long term, our hearts come up with reasons to do the thing we want to do rather than the thing that’s best for us over the longer term.
Say this to the person next to you: Your heart lies to you!
Say this to the person next to you: Your heart lies to you! Now say this to yourself: “My heart lies to me!”
Now say this to yourself: “My heart lies to me!”
The heart is deceitful above all things. So Solomon says, “When you find yourself at a fork in the road, don’t trust your heart, trust God!
—Don’t lean on your own understanding, lean on God!
—Don’t acknowledge your motivations, your intentions, your ambitions, acknowledge God’s.” If you do this, He will make your paths straight!
Jesus said something similar to this in His Sermon on the Mount when he said,
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Jesus said something similar thing in his Sermon on the Mount when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” ().
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” ().
PRINCIPLE ONE FROM SOLOMON: If you want to chose the right path—TRUST God!
What was the second thing Solomon told us to do to make our path straight?
Acknowledge God and His ways, and He will make your paths straight
Acknowledge God and His ways, and He will make your paths straight
6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
He’ll direct you in the way you should go. He’ll protect you when evil and chaos try to crowd in on you.
When we do this, GOD WILL direct us. He WILL ensure our safe arrival home. He WILL guide us thru the evil and chaos of life!
Read verses 5 and 6 with me:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Notice, we have no promise that we will not endure suffering or difficulties!
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Has there ever been a time when you acknowledged God in all your ways?
Has there ever been a time when you acknowledged God in all your ways?
Many of you have trusted him for salvation – which is kind of like inviting God into your living room. “Here, Lord, come into my life.” But then that’s as far as you let him go. Have you invited him into the rest of your house? ALL OF YOUR HOUSE?
How about your mind where all your private thoughts are? Have you invited him onto your computer, where you access the world? Have you invited him into your closet, where your secret things live?
Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and he’ll take care of the rest.” [Paraphrase]
Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, acknowledge him in all your ways, and he’ll steer your ship in the right direction, your bike onto the right path, your life into the right places and plans and priorities.” [Paraphrase]
ILLUSTRATION
I visited my brother Brad while I was Stateside.
He lives in an area with a lot twists and turns.
Every time I visit him I would get lost if it wasn’t for a GPS. It tells me when to turn, how long until I reach my destination. It tells me if I take a wrong turn and how to get back on the right path.
And when I arrive, it calls out the address and says, “You arrived!”
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a GPS for the Christian Life! Well, we do!
Illustration, “God is our GPS!” [Sticker from Doug]
When we listen to Him, He SPEAKS to keep us through His Word and the Holy Spirit.
God overrides the deceitfulness of my heart, so I can see the perfect wisdom rather than just happiness-now!
Let me ask you a couple questions: If you could strip away the self-deceiving reasons for your actions and be completely honest, what path are you on right now, and what path should not be on? Did you choose your path because you wanted happiness-now or because you were acknowledging God’s direction?
Solomon continues his thoughts about getting on God’s path:
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
After telling us the key to a straight path, the path we need to take, the path that will always get us where we EXACTLY need to be, Solomon suggests THREE ACTION STEPS to get us safely to our destination...
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Three Action Steps
Three Action Steps
After telling us the key to a straight path, the path we need to take, the path that will always get us where we EXACTLY need to be, Solomon suggests three action steps to get us safely to our destination:
1. Don’t be wise in your own eyes...
1. Don’t be wise in your own eyes...
7 Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! 8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
Don’t ever think, “I don’t need to consult God on this one, after all, I’m an expert at it. I’ve taken classes in it. I’ve taught others about it. I’ve done this type of thing a thousand times before.”
Every decision, every fork in the road is a new fork! Wherever you are today, you’ve never been there before. So resist the temptation to think you know it all. That’s when you get into trouble. Consult God in all your ways, with all your forks in the road.
When I returned from Iraq, I took all the notes
Don’t think, “I don’t need to consult God on this one, after all, I’m an expert at it. I’ve taken classes in it. I’ve taught others about it. I’ve done this type of thing a thousand times before.” Every decision, every fork in the road is a new fork. Wherever you are today, you’ve never been there before. So resist the temptation to think you know it all. That’s when you get into trouble. Consult God in all your ways, with all your forks in the road.
Every decision, every fork in the road is a new fork. Wherever you are today, you’ve never been there before. So resist the temptation to think you know it all. That’s when you get into trouble. Consult God in all your ways, with all your forks in the road.
2. Honor God’s provision for you...
2. Honor God’s provision for you...
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
PROV 3:
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
After all, it all came from him. If you want him to direct your paths, first, let him direct your wallet. For most of us, our wallets are somehow connected to our hearts!
After all, it all came from him. If you want him to direct your paths, first, let him direct your wallet. For most of us, our wallets are somehow connected to our hearts, aren’t they?
God says, “Hey, if you want my input, trust me with your output—I gave it all to you anyway. If you trust me, give.”
You know this is true: You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving!
ILLUSTRATION
Have you ever noticed how we afforded things when we had less money and can’t afford them when we do?
Here’s how it works. They say to themselves, “There’s this concert coming up, but I can barely afford it. Should I go?... Of course! After all, an opportunity like this only comes around once in life. I’ve gotta go see Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift, or whoever it is.” They feel poor, but they find the money and go.
Then, a few years later, they get married and have a child. The baby needs diapers and formula, and blankets and shoes and more things than his newly-minted mom and dad ever dreamed of. Now, when the Beyonces and Taylor Swifts hold concerts in their area. they say, “Are you kidding? Of course I can’t go to the concert. I have a kid to provide for!”
Then, a few years later, they get married and have a child. The baby needs diapers and formula, and blankets and shoes and more things than you can imagine. Now, when the Beyoncé and Taylor Swift hold concerts in their area, they say, “Are you kidding? Of course I can’t go to the concert. I have a child to provide for!”
Suddenly, their love for a person has changed all their priorities. They love that baby boy or girl so much, they don’t even think of it as giving. Now it’s just, “providing for.”
Suddenly, their love for a person has changed all their priorities. They love that baby boy or girl so much, they don’t even think of it as giving. Now it’s just, “providing!”
You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.
You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving!
SOLOMON TELLS US, “If you want God’s direction for your life, if you want Him to guide you, then honor Him with the firstfruits— the first of everything you earn for whatever kind of work you do. Then God will fill your barns to overflowing!”
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
It seems kind of backward! We think it should be, “If you love, you’ll give.” But God knows, “If you give, you’ll love!”
Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” ()
It seems kind of backward! We think it should be, “If you love, you’ll give.”
So SOLOMON TELLS US, “If you want my direction for your life, if you want me to guide you, honor me with the firstfruits of all your crops— the first of everything you earn for whatever kind of work you do. Then I’ll be able to fill your barns to overflowing!”
But God knows, “If you give, you’ll love! So he says, ‘If you want my direction for your life, if you want me to guide you, honor me with the firstfruits of all your crops— the first of everything you earn for whatever kind of work you do.’ Then I’ll be able to fill your barns to overflowing!”
3. Don’t blame God for your pain...
3. Don’t blame God for your pain...
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Sometimes we cause what happens to us! And God always knows when we need correction; which, He provides like every loving father does.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Sometimes you caused what is happening to you. And sometimes God knows you need some correction, which he provides like every loving father does.
I’ve heard many people say, “Why did God let this happen to me?” Usually, they’re in too much pain to hear the truth at that moment.
I’ve heard many people say, “Why did God let this happen to me?” Usually, they’re in too much pain to hear the truth at that moment. But the truth is, in most cases, God didn’t let that happen to them. God didn’t want that to happen to them. God tried to prevent it from happening to them. He tried to stop it, but he couldn’t stop them.
But the truth is, in most cases, God didn’t let that happen to them. God didn’t want that to happen to them. God tried to prevent it from happening to them. He tried to stop it, but he couldn’t stop them.
“The Lord disciplines those he loves, like a father does with a son he delights in.”
Why do some bad things happen to us—because we often do it to ourselves!
ILLUSTRATION
Years ago, a dear friend Dr. James Zeltner shared a story with me. (I thought he was old, because he was in his 60’s at the time!)
He told the story of a poor family in his church who was constantly getting help for food and rent. One day the family came to church driving a brand new car.
James was surprised and asked, “Wow, you must have got a new job!”
The man said, “Nope, it’s called credit! It must have been the will of the Lord!”
He happily drove his car back and forth for several weeks, and still asked for help for food and rent. James reluctantly helped the man for the sake of the children.
One Sunday the man WALKED to church with his family!
James asked, “Where’s the car?
The man sadly responded, “Well, I couldn’t pay for it and they repossessed it!”
James responded with his quick wit, “Well, it must have been the will of the Lord!”
Why do some bad things happen to us—because we often do it to ourselves! But take heart, Our Father will not leave us alone!
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
1. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. 2. Honor God’s provision for you. 3. Don’t blame God for your pain.
5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! 8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! 9 Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. 10 Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. 11 But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. 12 It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.