Your Heart Trumps Your Head
I know that most people tell you that you should never let your emotions rule your decisions and I have to agree, for the most part. But, in matters related to Jesus, our hearts matter.
Yes, I am sounding like a contradiction and I am not trying to be confusing. But, we have to search our hearts in order to truly understand our decisions.
I have been studying Cain and Abel this week to fill in for our Sunday school teacher. I realized things in this story that we should really consider in our life today about our Christian walk.
Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve. They both had important jobs. Cain worked the soil while Abel worked the flocks. (Genesis 4:1-2). They were different, but equally contributed to the family’s well-being.
When it was time for them to present their offerings to the Lord, Cain brought “some” of the fruits of the soil for his offering, but Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked upon Abel’s offering with favor, but He did not Cain’s and Cain was not happy. (Genesis 4:3-5)
It’s easy to see that the Lord favored Abel because he brought the very best of his flock for the offering and Cain did not. Cain just used his leftovers for the offering and it was disgraceful to Jesus.
The problem with Cain was not so much his offering, but his heart. WOW! Did you read that? It was a heart problem-not a giving problem.
Let’s talk modern-day now. When have you given and felt it was not enough? You thought you were giving your best and your all, but someone was less than pleased with you.
I have found myself going through all of the motions of being the “good Christian church member” and everything in my life was a mess. I would ask God, “Why are you allowing me to go through so many trials when I go to church every time the doors open? I am serving you by teaching youth Sunday school, or Wednesday night kids church or helping in children’s choir and all I am experiencing are trials.”
I finally figured it out after doing the “wrong” things over and over again. I had a HEART problem. I could serve in all of those capacities and have my body in church every week, but it was not enough. Jesus didn’t want my presence at church- he wanted my presence in Him. If I was only serving Him out of duty or for appearances, I was just spinning my wheels.
Once I realized I was doing this, my whole attitude changed. I started craving the word of God and wanting to spend time with Him because He became my friend-not just a deity. I began to want my serving to be rooted in my heart to seek Him. I pursued acts of service that I prayed about and felt called to do and it made all of the difference in the world.
Did I start having less trials once I got my heart right? No. Not even close. I still struggle with things of this world, but I tackle it completely different. I put my heart and my trust in God’s promises in His Word. I look to His Word to guide my life-not myself.
Most of us know the sad ending to Cain and Abel’s story (Genesis 4:8-12). Cain lures Abel and kills him. Then, he lies to Jesus about what he did. Finally, Jesus curses him for the rest of his life. There are no more accounts of Cain in the Bible except two references to his acts. But, it doesn’t tell us what, exactly, the curse was that he had to endure the rest of his life and how the rest of his life played out. We can only assume that it was hard and troublesome.
If you’re a Cain, and you’re just giving God what you have left, then pivot. Start praying about your heart and how you can serve Him with deep feeling and not just duty. I promise you that it will be worth it.
“Serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12