The Desires of The Heart

Good Morning! I hope all are safe an warm as we are having a winter event in Georgia today.

I am sure I have mentioned in the past about how meaningful our Thursday night Bible study is to me. Ellen Brewer does a great job of trying to corral us and direct the study. I know it isn’t very easy.

This past Thursday night we studied the first eleven verses of Psalm 37. I encourage you to memorize the third and fourth verses so you will have it in your memory bank. Jeff Whitfield, one of our study members, cautioned about the fourth verse. Some unscrupulous person might attempt to twist this verse to bolster the “prosperity gospel”. Well, I do believe in the prosperity gospel … it is just that I define prosperity a little differently than most.
Jesus said it best:

Matthew 6:19-21 (English Standard Version)
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20

Keeping in mind that God uses gold for pavement and precious jewels for building materials, what would the treasures of heaven be?

What does God value?

The simple answer is “you”.

When you think about what God Himself gave up to redeem humankind (you included), you have to come to the conclusion that God values human relationship above everything else He created. That being said, where then is true prosperity? Does it not lie in the relationships we have with Him and with each other?

Now, let’s look at the five “do’s” in verses 3 and 4:
(1) Trust in the Lord – this is always the starting point. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So we must first place our trust in Him.
(2) Do good – how does one truly “do good”? Well, when we have our trust in the Lord, and the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, we will do good.
(3) Dwell in the land – enjoy what God has provided for you even if it isn’t as “good” as someone else might have. We are not in competition with our neighbor for wealth accumulation. If your neighbor drives a Mercedes and God has given you a Ford, rejoice in the provision God has made for both of you.
(4) Befriend faithfulness – Life’s journey has humps and bumps – but keep your eyes on the ultimate destination. Satan will try every trick to have you give up … don’t listen to him. Pay attention to God’s still, small voice.
(5) Delight yourself in the Lord – think about what God wants from you rather than what you want from God. God has already given you the very best He has to offer. Everything else we ask for cannot compare with the love of Jesus Christ. Trust Him to provide for the physical needs you may have – He won’t let you down. Focus on the task He has set before you.

“…and He will give you the desires of your heart.” If you are into the five “do’s”, what do you think the desires of your heart will be? You will be seeking prosperity … relationship with God and with man. God will grant that to you.

And may He do so this good day…

Agape’


Mr. Jim