All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
(Proverbs 16:2 – ESV)
The “spirit” here means the intentions of the heart, or motives, the purposes of a person as dictated by the inner man. Often we rationalize our behavior in light of what we think are good intentions, but we are actually trying to carry out our own will without truly knowing the big picture. We might do some small good, in order to bring about our own desired end, we help others because of what they can or will do for us.
Have you ever been to a prison, and asked those on death row if they thought that they were basically a “good” person? You might be surprised at how many would respond in the affirmative. And so it is with all of us; we think, no matter how much evil we have done, no matter how much we have disobeyed God, that we are a good person “at heart”. However, God says that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
We must yield to God, and know His Word in order to be able to make a true judgment. The key is to know that “I the Lord search the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). Then we can pray, like David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
3 comments:
The other verse that comes to mind in this regard is Hebrews 4.11 (I think; I'm not where I can verify, but that's close) - The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, dividing soul and spirit and flesh and bone (a very rough paraphrase).
On a less Scriptural note, there was a song a few years back called "Alright Guy" where the singer is describing the sin he has done, but still thinks he's an "alright guy" (sarcasticly).
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