Are you reckless with your heart affections?
Recently I had the opportunity to speak at Destiny Church and I had the best time sharing a new message with an old lesson about the heart. The lesson… it’s all about the heart. Over the last several years, I have learned a lot about my own heart. After experiencing seasons of pain and betrayal, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am powerless over many things around me. I can’t control what people do or how they act but I can control my own heart and my own affections. This is so important because the affections of our heart produce behavior in us that either honors God or it doesn’t. Our heart will always produce our actions.
So let’s look at some scripture together and I’ll show you what I mean…
Matthew 19:16-26 NKJV
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
We have this young man who has it all together. Rich, successful, handsome, religious… he’s a baller. He has it going on. He is living The American Dream! I feel that it’s an interesting exchange because Jesus already knows this guy’s heart. Jesus knows this young man has been reckless with his affections and his true heart worship was with money. Jesus knows where our hearts are at.
It’s interesting that Jesus only listed 6 of the 10 commandments but the four Jesus didn’t mention… well it was for a reason.
5. Honor mom and dad
6. Don’t kill anyone
7. Don’t cheat on your spouse
8. Don’t steal stuff
9. Don’t lie about things
10. Don’t be jealous (covet) of other people’s life
- No other gods before me (Jesus at the center)
- Don’t worship anything but me (heart worship for God)
- Don’t take my name in vain (honor God in your heart and words)
- Keep the Sabbath holy (take time with God)
Vertical & Horizontal
The life… the very brief life, we are given on this earth is made up of two things we must keep in check at all times… the vertical and the horizontal. The first 4 commandments all deal with our vertical relationship with God. The last 6 all deal with horizontal relationships with people. I have lived the fake Christianese life and it leads to death! That’s why I’m so passionate about my own heart. I don’t want to go through the motions of being a Christian and I hope you don’t either.
