Wise Hearts
I. Introduction
A. In the Wizard of Oz, the tin man (Jack Haley) wanted a heart in order to be
1. Human
2. Tender, Gentle and Sentimental
3. Friendly
4. Emotions such as jealously and devotion.
5. Young and chipper.
B. When we consider the heart….
1. We sometime think of the human organ that pumps blood through our body.
a) That provides oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body.
b) That on occasion goes into arrest.
2. Other times we think of the emotions that are associated with it.
a) The joy of loving one another.
b) As the ABC sports promo went, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”
c) The sorrow felt at the loss of a loved one.
C. When the Bible speaks of the heart….
1. It means so much more than these things.
2. The heart is the center of the physical, mental and spiritual life of each of us.
3. The heart is connected to thinking – Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
4. The heart is connected with giving – 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “So let each one give as he has purposed in his heart…”
5. The heart is associated with morality – Job 27:6 – “My righteousness I hold fast and will not let go and my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.”
6. The heart is described as the dwelling place of God – Romans 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
II. The Heart That is Wise
A. One Not Wicked
1. Proverbs 6:18 – A heart that devises wicked plans the Lord hates.
a) Such were those in the days of Noah – Genesis 6:5
b) Jeremiah 18:18 – There were those that devised wicked plans against the great prophet.
2. A wicked heart comes from pride (Proverbs 21:4) and is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 16:5).
3. A wicked heart in one that is hardened toward God.
a) Proverbs 28:14 – “Happy is the man who is always reverent but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”
b) Pharaoh of Egypt had such a heart – Exodus 11:10
4. A wicked heart is full of deceit – Proverbs 12:20
a) Jesus warned His apostles of such people – Matthew 24:11
b) Paul likewise warned Timothy about deceitful and wicked hearts – 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:3-4
B. Rather it is Pure
1. Proverbs 17:3 – “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.”
a) Not that God tempts us – James 1:13
b) 1 Chronicles 29:17 – “I also know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.”
c) Psalm 26:2 – “Examine me, O Lord, and test me, try my mind and my heart.”
2. Just as fire purifies metal, so our Lord purifies us.
a) Proverbs 20:9 – “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sins’?”
b) Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
c) Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed to Your word.”
C. It is Guarded
1. The wise man teaches us how to guard our hearts.
a) Proverbs 2:2 –“…incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding…”
b) Proverbs 3:1 – “…let your heart keep my commandments.”
c) Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep (Guard NIV) your heart will all diligence…”
d) Proper thinking – Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:1-2
e) Proverbs 23:12 – “Apply your heart to instruction…”
f) Proper guidance – Proverbs 28:26 – “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool…”
2. We need to be careful about what we take into our heart.
a) Wrong influences.
b) Wrong images.
c) Wrong surroundings.
d) Wrong teaching.
D. Is a Happy Heart
1. Proverbs 12:25 (ESV) – “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Philippians 4:6, Luke 10:41-42
2. Proverbs 14:30 (ESV) – “A tranquil (sound-NKJV) gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
3. Proverbs 15:13 - “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” It is seed to see one that gives up on God and themselves.
4. Proverbs 17:22 – “A merry heart does good like medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones.”
5. We should be joyous people.
a) 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice always”
b) Nehemiah 8:10 – “The joy of the Lord will be your strength.”
c) Romans 5:11 – “…but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
III. The Importance of a Wise Heart
A. The Heart Determines Our Character
1. Proverbs 27:19 – “As in water face reflects face so a man’s heart reveals the man.”
2. Matthew 6:21 – “For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
3. We see the negative example of this in Ananias and Saphirra – Acts 5:1-11 (Alive but then dead)
4. We see the positive example in Dorcas – Acts 9:36-43 (Dead but made alive)
B. The Heart Determines Our Action
1. Matthew 12:34-35 – “For out of the abundance of the heart speaks the mouth. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil.”
2. In Acts 16:14, we see Lydia’s heart was open to hear, believe and obey the gospel.
3. If our heart is wise we will relate well with others – Ephesians 4:32
4. If our heart is wise we will seek the will of God – Ephesians 6:6
C. The Heart Determines Our Spiritual Position
1. He should the attitude of the Psalmist (84:2) – “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
2. Our hearts need to be near to Christ – Matthew 15:8
3. A hard heart will treasure up wrath in the day of righteous judgment – Romans 2:5
4. Those with wise hearts will resists and run from the devil and run to God – James 4:7-8
IV. Conclusion
A. Our heart is at the very core of our relationship with God
1. Those that are pure in heart will see God – Matthew 5:8
2. Those that obey from the heart will be delivered from sin – Romans 6:17
3. Those that believe from the heart will do so unto righteousness – Romans 10:8-10
B. Is our heart wise?
