“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Luke 6:45
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). This is a verse that I heard often as I was growing up. However, this verse must be understood in order to appropriate its’ meaning into one’s life. As one reads about the heart in the Bible, it is good to understand that the heart is the seat of one’s emotions, will, intellect, and moral consciousness. The heart is seen as the center of one’s spiritual life, or lack thereof. That is why it is so important to protect it (keep it with all diligence). What goes into the heart is what makes the person, and what comes out of the heart reveals the true nature of that person.
Remember in the wilderness when Moses was preparing the new generation to enter the Promised Land, he read them the Ten Commandments again. He reminded them that they had not wanted to hear directly from God. Instead, they wanted God to tell Moses, and for Moses to tell them God’s Words. “27. Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it,and do it. 28. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:27-29). Did you notice what God wanted from His people? God wanted His people to fear Him, keep His commandments (so that it would be well with them and their children forever), and He wanted them to have these things in their hearts. If they had had this kind of a heart, they would have obeyed God and saved themselves much grief. The days in the wilderness were a time of proving – to see what was in their hearts. “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2). God expected obedience to His Word, for it would be well with them. If you remember, they failed often. The trials they had in the wilderness revealed what was really in their hearts.
Later, we read much about what David declared about God’s Word in Psalm 119. Notice one specific verse: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). God’s Word in the heart can prevent much sin in one’s life – if one will remember to obey God’s Word! Instead, we tend to put much junk into our hearts today. Proverbs chapter ten is a good one to study to help you know the difference.
Jesus taught that we can tell much about one by what comes out of their heart. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). A good man has good treasure in his heart, and so he brings good out of his heart. Obviously, the opposite is true of an evil man with evil treasure; for he brings out that which is evil. Now does it make sense as to why we are to “keep our hearts with all diligence”? How many of you had a mother who taught you “What goes in, will come out.” It is true. Jesus taught this.
The following verses may narrow down exactly what this is referring to as it relates to the things placed in one’s life. “5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8). We can understand that the description “flesh” and “carnally minded” represents those without Jesus in their hearts, those who are dead and cannot please God (“enmity against God”). On the converse, “Spirit” and “spiritually minded” represents those who have Jesus in their hearts and lives and are able to please God. Do not be a Christian who has remained carnally minded! One living in the flesh cannot please God.
Understanding these things, what comes out in a Christian’s life should reveal that Jesus is truly in that heart. Once we understand that basic concept, we can then begin to honestly serve the Lord with what He had given us, making a difference in this world for Him.
Are you spiritually minded, revealing Jesus to the world by what treasure comes out of your heart?
