Reading for Today:
Proverb Chapter 18
Gold Nugget
Verse 2: “A fool has no delight in understanding, but
in expressing his own heart.”
Commentary
Today’s “gold
nugget” is as simple and straight to the point as any we’ve seen. “A fool has no delight in understanding, but
in expressing his own heart.” When discussing an issue recently, I could
tell the person explaining their side of the issue seemed to have no regard for
truth or facts. It was soon proven when they said, “I don’t care whether what you are saying is true or not. This is what
I believe and I’m not going to change my mind.” They had such a strong
feeling in their heart and didn’t care if it was accurate or not. Even if what
they believed was a lie, they had purposed to continue “expressing their own heart “. The day we start ignoring the truth
to appeal to what our heart feels is the day we can become slave to any fallacy
that comes along… (as long as it feels good in our heart). I once had the
difficult task of counseling with a woman that was convinced that the affair
she was having was with a man that God had sent her. She insisted that the
adulterous relationship was of God because it felt so right in her heart. No
matter how much scripture I shared with her that was contrary to the position
she took, it didn’t matter. She had “no
delight in understanding, but in expressing her own heart”. I have a friend
at work that is often quoted as saying, “Now don’t go muddying up the water
with facts!” Although meant in humor, many people live by that very philosophy.
The Word of God is pure and undefiled. We are to conform to the principles and
precepts contained therein without prejudice towards our own desires. As
discussed recently in other devotions, our hearts are not always in line with
what is right and can lead us astray. There is a philosophy these days that
says “follow your heart”, but can never be found in scripture. Its popularity
stems solely from a society that has become more and more self-centered. The
concept of relying on God and His written Word is the wisest and most
fulfilling form of submission. Submitting to the truth in the Scriptures over
the desires of our hearts is the only approach that aligns with God and His
plan for your life.
Prayer
Lord, I’m grateful
for the truth and facts that are clearly defined in your Word. Help me to
conform to your ways and heed the truth that is available to me and allow it to
overrule the desires of my heart. Amen
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