The human heart
is deceitful and easily deceived (Jer. 17:9). The writer of Proverbs twice
said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to
death” (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). None of us should trust our hearts. We should not
rely on our wisdom or our sense of what is right and good. Our moral
conscience, the inner sense of right and wrong, is a wonderful thing. But it
can be misinformed (Acts 23:1; cf. 1Tim. 1:13) or misled (1Cor. 4:4; Tit. 3:3).
Trusting our hearts is merely a subtle, sinful way of trusting in ourselves.
Society preaches
loudly and persistently that we should follow our heart, trust our gut, do what
feels good, and live in whatever way seems best. Are we surprised that fallen,
prideful, selfish beings would trust their own wisdom instead of trusting God?
But sadly, many professing believers have embraced society’s message and
adopted the doctrine of trusting in the heart instead of in the trustworthy
God. The error is subtle and easily overlooked. “You have to learn to follow
your heart,” writes Joel Osteen. “Believe in yourself,” urges Joyce Meyer. But
what do the Proverbs say? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not
lean on your own understanding” (3:5). “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart
pure; I am clean from my sin’?” (20:9). The implication is: no one. “Every way
of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart” (21:2). “Apply
your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge” (23:12).
Our instincts
will often mislead us. We cannot trust our inner perception of what is true. We
need God to guide us, and He has revealed His will infallibly and authoritatively
in the Bible (2Tim. 3:16-17). When someone says, “I think God…” we need to ask,
“What did God say?” Our hearts are fickle. Unrestrained they will lead us to
the depths of despair or to the ecstasy of false assurance. Anchor your heart
to God’s word (Heb. 6:17-19). What He says is always right (Prov. 30:5) and
always for our good (Deut. 6:24). God is unchanging (Mal. 3:6). Who He is will
never change. What He says will never change. His promises will never fail.
Trust Him. Bury yourself in His word. And do not be misled by your own
deceptive heart. -JME
