Heart Matters: Part 1
Read Judges 16:15-20 & Proverbs 4:23
Keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence… – Proverbs 4:23
He told her all his heart… – Judges 16:17
Let me begin by stating this truth about all of humanity: Every individual wants someone with whom they can share their heart. We desire that connection, especially in the realm of romance. That desire for connection, if not directed first toward God, often leaves us vulnerable.
I remember being in a wedding when I was around the age of 5. I had a little “girlfriend” at the time, but she was not the girl I walked down the aisle with. Actually, I walked down the aisle with my cousin. But that didn’t matter to the girl. I think I broke her heart that day. My bad.
Undoubtedly you have endured a broken heart. It didn’t have to be broken by a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Your heart could have been broken by a friend, a parent, a confidant. You shared your heart with that person, and they broke it. A harsh word was spoken. A secret was told. The person started avoiding you. But your heart – that was broken. You are left with the pieces, wondering how they will ever be put back together. You are left with the pieces, committed to never allowing yourself to be hurt again.
Something about Samson that I have never understood is how he lived so close to the edge. He kept pursuing romance with everyone who was wrong for him. Yes, even Samson endured heartbreak. In Judges 15 Delilah is trying to figure out where Samson’s strength comes from. Finally, after being fooled by her man time and time again, she begins appealing to his heart. “How can you say you love me when you haven’t given me your heart?” So Samson tells her all his heart. If only he had heard Solomon’s admonition from Proverbs, maybe then he would have kept his guard up.
I think it is time for me to get to the point. All of us desire to share our heart with someone. That desire is there because we are made in the image of God. But sin messes our desires up. That is why the Lord warned us in Proverbs to keep our hearts with all diligence. How do we do that???
We do that by giving our hearts completely and wholly to Him. Since my target audience is teens I’m going to drop this line right here – before you give your heart away to a young man or woman make sure your heart belongs to God and their heart belongs to God.
Also, if your heart is broken, and you don’t know what to do with it – God takes broken hearts too. And He knows just how to fix it.
The LORD is night unto them that are of a broken heart – Psalm 34:18
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. – Psalm 51:17
All questions and comments can be submitted to Kenneth Crews at [email protected]