Heart Condition

(Pro 17:18 KJV) A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

“Some people don’t have the ‘sense’ (3820) [leb] they were born with.”  I can remember people being described that way.  The KJV uses “understanding” here.  Either way it is a real indictment of people’s ability to think and make decisions.  We all do dumb things but some have more of a vacuum than others.

The word is common in the OT.  It refers to the inner man.  The most common translation is “heart”.  We use heart that way a lot today in describing what motivates people.  In our Sunday School theology we talk about giving our heart to Jesus.  The Bible also uses this kind of figurative language.

(Eze 36:26 KJV) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

So?  We make decisions based on what is in control of our heart.  It can either be a redeemed and regenerated heart or one still in the grip of sin.  Watch how you deal with others and make your own judgement.  Act accordingly. 

Heart Switch

(Proverbs 28:26 KJV)  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Modern romantic thought is telling us to follow our hearts.  The idea is that if we reach down inside and listen to our inner self we will find true happiness.  That is only true in people who have had their “heart” (3820) remade by the Holy Spirit.  The real truth about our inner nature is stated early in scripture.

(Genesis 6:5 KJV)  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

But we also find the promise of redemption of the core.

(Ezekiel 36:26 KJV)  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

The Spirit makes that change.  With that change we seek wisdom.  Life is no longer futile.

So?  Start at the right place.  Finish at the right place.