Good Intentions

Reading for Today: Proverb Chapter 18

Gold Nugget

Verse 2: “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.”

Commentary

The popular teaching in today’s society is, “Follow your heart”. There may not be a more foolish bit of advice in all the world. The old saying, “Hell is paved with good intentions" has some legitimate value to it. We wouldn't head for a destination that we've never been to with merely good intentions. We would want facts. We would not be satisfied with following our heart. When it comes right down to it, truth trumps both intentions and heart’s desires. Consider today’s “gold nugget, “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” My heart may want to take Interstate 10 to Ohio, but I’ll never get north on an east/west course. With that in mind we would quickly agree that we need directions, accuracy and truth to reach our destination. We want maps, GPS and instructions that are 100% accurate without opinion or suggestions. If this is all true concerning driving from Texas to Ohio, why in the world would we accept any other standards when we travel though life with heaven as our destination? When making decisions about the direction we go in and the manner in which we travel, we should not be following our heart or good intentions. We should be asking, “What do the Scriptures say about my direction and means of travel?” The Word of God (Truth) trumps both intentions and heart’s desires. We should be focused on what He has to say about the decisions we make for everyday living. My heart can be misleading and my intentions can be carnal, but the Word of God is ever true and always applicable. I knew someone that once made a life altering decision that they admitted wasn't what God wanted, but what they said they knew needed to be done. This person followed their heart with good intentions down a path to sure destruction. Fortunately they repented and God restored. Let’s learn as they did not to follow our heart, but to follow the steps ordered by God in His word.

Prayer

Lord, help me to have the commitment to your Word and truth that will trump my heart’s desires and good intentions when they do not agree with your word. Amen

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