Give Your Heart to God

A few weekends ago, at the men’s retreat, I referenced Proverbs 23:26 which says:

“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”

The call for the men in attendance that weekend, and now as a reminder, is to be the type of man, husband, or father in which others can entrust their hearts to, and whose ways are trustworthy to be observed.

There are three directions of application in this one verse 

First, it is a word to the son.

Second, it is a model for a father.

But third, in a greater sense, it is an invitation to all of us, from our Heavenly Father.

Our father in heaven says to us: “my son, my daughter, give me your heart,” 

More than Feelings

Giving or entrusting God with your heart, isn’t giving him your feelings or emotions.  It does entail that, but when the Bible speaks of the heart, which is sometimes used synonymously with soul, it is speaking about the deepest center of your life. One place we see this drawn out is in the story of Samson. Delilah has tried several times to learn of where his strength comes from, and she says to Samson (listen for heart language), Judges 16:15-17,

“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. And he told her all his heart, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.’”

He shares the deepest truth of his soul with her which is described in the text as Samson “telling her all his heart”.

Give Heart First

There are two instructions given here in Proverbs and both are important. He doesn’t just say observe my ways, that won’t do. He says give me your heart, and observe my ways. Almost to say, without giving me your heart, you won’t have the ability to rightly observe my ways.

We see this manifest itself in one of the parables in Luke 18, Luke records Jesus saying: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”

One of these men thought he had observed the Father’s ways, but he had not given Him his heart. And having not given the Father his heart, he actually failed to understand His ways. 

Only one man gave the father his heart. And in the story, only one man went away justified.

You must give him your heart or you will not understand his ways. If his rules always feel burdensome, or restrictive, or excessive, you do not know the Father’s ways as you ought to. And if you don’t understand his ways, it may be because you have not given him your heart.

Give Him Your Sins

Giving God your whole heart starts with giving him all your sin. He has paid it all off if you would but give it to him. Maybe you have never repented and given it to him, or maybe you have, but struggle to surrender and entrust your heart fully to him.  Either way, you can. He is our Heavenly Father, who is able to be trusted with all our sins and fears and struggles.  

The Father is calling: “My son, my daughter, give me your heart.” May we answer that call. 

Prayer

Jesus you command us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We have not surrendered it all to you. We are fearful of what full surrender might mean. But Father you have made our hearts and you know how to provide for them. Help us to surrender to you in this moment of silent confession… 

Father, having poured out our heart to you in confession, make us ready to see and hear of your ways. You are good and do good. Knowing that you have loved us and redeemed us, make our forgiven hearts ready to receive from you. Show us your ways as we sing of your glory and hear from your Word. Give us your joy Jesus, amen.