Follow Your Heart

"Follow your heart." Some people call this the Disney philosophy; it reality, it is an American (and probably a human) philosophy. It is deeply ingrained in people and strongly reinforced by society to make decisions based on what feels right or desired. It is generally accepted that this is how people will know the right decision.

God says, "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). The contrast is clear: trust one's own heart and be a fool, or rely on something greater and walk wisely.

How many people in the Bible were led astray by their own hearts? Eve followed her heart and ate of the forbidden but desired fruit. Lot chose to live in Sodom; his soul was vexed and his family was destroyed. Achan took desired battle spoil that resulted in his death and that of his family. Samson followed after heathen women who brought his destruction. If Samuel had followed his heart, he would have chosen one of David's brothers to be king. David's heart nearly led him to kill Nabal and his household. David pursued an affair with Bathsheba, leading him to then commit murder as a attempted cover-up.

The list could go on and on. In the passion of the moment, these people's hearts told them what to do - and they were wrong. These people wanted something badly, and they took steps to acquire what their hearts desired. In hindsight, it is not hard to see that following their hearts was foolish.

Hindsight is rather the key. Though not always true, following one's heart is often a spur-of-the-moment, quick decision that does not thoroughly evaluate. It often ignores caution and reason. It generally sees only the positives without considering the negatives also. It even discards counsel, believing that no one else can understand what one's own heart "knows." A month or a year or ten years later, people who follow their hearts will often acknowledge that they made a foolish decision (or they will wonder why their life is a disaster).

The particular danger of heart-based decisions is that following one's heart is often used for the very greatest decisions and those carrying the most permanent consequences. Career choices, marriage choices, ministry choices, lifestyle choices, church choices, and other very important decisions are often made by following one's heart.

God gives much caution about relying on one's heart and own evaluation. "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25). A decision based solely on human reasoning and desires will not turn out well. Human understanding is too shallow, but God's wisdom is profound. "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Not only is human wisdom shallow, but human emotion is fallible. Man's heart is too easily tied to this world and its philosophies. "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. ... For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (I John 2:15-16). Where will that world-influenced heart end up? "The world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (I John 2:17). Following one's heart is often centered precisely on the three dangers listed in I John 2:16, and the end of that path is disaster.

The heart has a strong pull, but it is not very objective. Often the heart helps people find ways to justify what they really want to do. It acts without counsel and operates outside the support of the Bible. It allows people to follow a course of action that they might admit they would not counsel someone else to follow; they might even state that in most cases, they wouldn't recommend such action but that their case is special. When something is personal, it is easy to ignore traditional guidelines and make oneself the exception.

How then should decisions be made? Instead of the inclinations of one's heart, decisions must be made from the wisdom of the Bible. Danger alarms should go off when the basis of a decision is "It feels good," "It seems right," or "It is what I really want." Even if those statements are true, they must be backed up by godly wisdom. Some verse or Biblical principle must influence and confirm the decision.

As a Christian's heart becomes more like God's, as his thoughts become more like God's, and as God's Word becomes more deeply ingrained into his life, he will come closer to naturally making right decisions, but always He must seek God's guidance. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Trust your heart? Oh, no, trust God instead.