Behavior Comes from the Heart (Matthew 15:10-11, 17-20)

Jesus focuses on the heart of a person, the essential nature of who that person is. He says that a person’s actions come directly from his heart. What if that heart is not well? “The evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:35) And thus, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” This list serves as an example of the kinds of things that a spiritually unhealthy heart produces, not the only things Jesus is condemning. If Jesus is saying that which is in our hearts is inevitably manifested in our actions, then how do we keep our hearts healthy?

Focus Feeds the Heart (Matthew 6:19-23)

We know our behavior is affected by what is in our hearts, but how do those things get there in the first place? Jesus says it begins with what we treasure. We’ve already come across this word in the earlier passage, where Jesus tells us that the treasure in our hearts (what is precious to us) comes out in our actions. Here in Jesus’ sermon about the kingdom, he tells us that our eyes are the gateway to our hearts. In other words, what we treasure, deem precious, and hope to gain becomes our goal and we fix our eyes on it. As our eyes are fixed on that treasure, our hearts become attuned to compelling our body to do whatever is necessary to attain it. If the treasure is heavenly, we will be filled with light that results from an eternal focus. If the treasure is earthly, we will be filled with darkness that results from a transient focus. Does this mean we cannot attain things of this earth? No, but it does mean that our focus is still on God, as it is written, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25) Notice that the focus is still on God, even in earthly labors that are subsequently rewarded with earthly things. Now, if our bodies’ righteous actions proceed from our spiritually healthy hearts, which are affected by our heavenly focus, how do we maintain the right focus?

Spiritual Diet Maintains the Focus (Philippians 4:8-9)

Notice that before Paul instructs the Philippians to “practice these things,” he tells them to “think about these things.” Earlier, he tells them to “have this mind” (Philippians 2:5) that would enable them to behave in a way that echoed Christ’s example. In Colossians 3 Paul communicates something similar, relating that which we seek and on which we fix our gaze to what will and will not be part of our conduct, and consequently the goal we will attain. Maintaining this healthy heart and focus is only possible with a healthy spiritual diet. What does this diet consist of? Paul reminds Timothy that God’s word is breathed out and chiefly profitable for all things (2 Timothy 3:16-17), just like God breathed life into man (Genesis 2:7). To maintain a focus on God, one needs to fill himself (his mind) with God’s words, and so fill himself with the life that only comes from God. James tells us that this cannot be done while we are still full of evil, so we must get rid of the evil practices and meekly receive and practice God’s word. (James 1:21-22) Jesus says that people who do this will develop an appetite for righteousness. (Matthew 5:6) What about times when we are not actually reading and studying God’s word? Paul instructs the Philippians to actively think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Maintaining the right focus and a healthy heart comes from filling our time with things that fill us with good.

What about you? Do you take time each day to train your mind to focus on God by spending time solely in the reading and study of His Word? What about your entertainment? Honestly, does the music you listen to, the television programs you watch, and the movies you enjoy encourage you to think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy? Do your conversations with other people consist of things that build up and nourish the heart, or weigh it down? How is your heart? What does your spiritual diet consist of? What is on the menu for today?