The condition of my heart - whether I realise this or not determines the kind of relationship I keep in general. In particular, it defines my character and personality - a tag or brand name which sets me apart. Family members, close friends, school mates label me as either proud, loving, caring or just wicked. So, in essence, my heart is a true reflection of me - mirroring my every detail in the public eye, despite all efforts made at concealing the true me.
A proud heart God condemns a proud heart; someone who elevates him or herself to the rank of a godhead. There are many proud hearts in our world but God’s verdict is clear. “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5) “Pride is the recipe for precipitated downfall, it leads to destruction.” (Proverbs 16:18)
A Syrian army commander named Naaman is a perfect example of what pride can do. Afflicted with leprosy, he had travelled all the way to Jerusalem on the recommendation of his housemaid (taken into slavery from Israel on one of his escapades) in order to receive healing from a renowned man of God, the prophet Elisha. Unfortunately for him, on arrival at the prophet’s doorstep, the latter did not give him a welcome befitting his military rank, nor did he step out to even talk to him. He simply sent word through a messenger instructing the commander to “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (2 Kings 5:10)
Naaman felt slighted: first by the kind of welcome he received and second by the choice of the river. He could not understand why the prophet would ask him to go and bathe in one of the dirtiest rivers of Israel when there were more appropriate ones for a man of his stature back home. “But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” (2 Kings 5: 11-12) So Naaman turned and went off in a rage.
Typical of a proud heart he wanted to dictate the terms of his healing. It would take Naaman’s servants, who reasoned with him to comply. “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (2 Kings 5:13) After all, this was a simple directive given by the prophet, very easy to observe. Pride blinds the reasoning power of its victim.
A loving heart. Real love demands some sacrifice, it means giving up all that one has for the benefit of the other – self-sacrificing friendship. Nothing compares to the love Jonathan had for his friend David. “Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1) As a symbol of his love, Jonathan lovingly “took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.” (1 Samuel 18:4) When out of jealousy king Saul wanted to kill David, Jonathan, his son, warned David of the impending danger. Jonathan was so fond of David that he did not make claims to his father’s throne. He found in David a better and more able successor to him, and he readily eclipsed himself.
A pure heart: Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ once preached to a crowd on the mountainside and said: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5.8) He had observed that the religious leaders of his day were a whole bunch of hypocrites robed in sheep’s clothing and making life difficult for the poor. How he wished that their hearts were pure like his! God welcomes into his kingdom all those who have a pure heart, who hold no grudge against anyone; who are frank, genuine and sincere in their dealings with people for they would have met the criterion for entry – pureness of heart. Purity of the heart cannot be faked; it is like pure water – spotless and clean.
A sincere heart: “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrew 10:22) Sincerity of heart is like looking through a fish bowl, you can see right through it – with its contents and all - even to the tiny particles floating around. You cannot miss it; it is like daylight with no shadows. Paul emphasises that “Love must be sincere.” (Romans 12:9) Anything short of a relationship that is sincere will one day crash in broad daylight – it will be revealed. They say, ‘Water never gets stale,’ but upon reflection it would when it contains foreign elements. This is a simple lesson in sincerity.
Prophet Samuel was assigned the task of anointing one of Jesse’s sons as king to succeed Saul. Upon arrival at Jesse’s residence, he met with the eldest son and in his heart he was convinced that he should be the one whom God had chosen. But God said to him. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Of the seven sons paraded, not one qualified. It was the eighth son, David – in the fields at the time tending sheep, whom later God called “the man after his own heart” that was anointed king. “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” (1 John 3:20)
God will deal with each of us according to our hearts. Some have hardened their hearts to His Word, rejecting it. But salvation comes only from His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Acts 4:12) So Lord God “Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men.)” (2 Chronicles 6:30)
However, whatever the brand of my heart is, God can transform it, recondition or remould it to suit His purposes – for His own good. I only need to submit and surrender my heart condition for a major transformation.