In Scripture, our individual lives and corresponding collective lives that we call “culture” are simply the showing forth of the condition of our heart. The heart is the seat and center of our identity, the essence of our total inner selves, which expresses itself outwardly in word and deed. This concept is central to the teachings of Scripture, and the word heart in its various forms (e.g., hearts, hearted) occurs over nine hundred times.
In Proverbs alone the heart is the seat of understanding,2 learning,3 memory,4 faith,5 obedience,6 rebellion,7 planning,8 imagination,9 lust,10 will,11 perversity,12 deceit,13 folly,14 anxiety,15 hope,16 joy,17 hurt,18 grief,19 peace,20 wisdom,21 happiness,22 discernment,23 cheerfulness,24 contemplation,25 pride,26 speech,27 rage,28 motives,29 purity,30 folly,31 friendship,32 gladness,33 envy,34 violence,35 reasoning,36 sadness,37 evil,38 sins,39 and hardness toward God.40
Additionally, when Jesus taught from the Old Testament, He said that our words come out of our hearts,41 our lusts come out of our hearts,42 and how we spend our money is determined by our hearts.43 He taught that out of our hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly.44 He said that good and evil proceed from the heart,45 and sinful grief, anxiety, and drunkenness come out of our hearts.46
What is the state of your heart right now toward the Lord?
- Prov. 2:2.
- Prov. 2:10.
- Prov. 3:1–3.
- Prov. 3:5.
- Prov. 4:4; 10:8.
- Prov. 5:12.
- Prov. 6:14; 16:1.
- Prov. 6:18.
- Prov. 6:25.
- Prov. 7:25.
- Prov. 11:20; 17:20.
- Prov. 12:20; 26:24.
- Prov. 12:23.
- Prov. 12:25.
- Prov. 13:12.
- Prov. 13:25; 15:30; 27:9.
- Prov. 14:10.
- Prov. 14:13.
- Prov. 14:30.
- Prov. 14:33; 23:15.
- Prov. 15:13.
- Prov. 15:14; 16:21; 18:15.
- Prov. 15:15; 17:22.
- Prov. 15:28.
- Prov. 16:5; 18:12; 21:4.
- Prov. 16:23.
- Prov. 19:3.
- Prov. 21:2.
- Prov. 22:11.
- Prov. 22:15.
- Prov. 23:7.
- Prov. 23:15.
- Prov. 23:17.
- Prov. 24:2.
- Prov. 24:32.
- Prov. 25:20.
- Prov. 26:23.
- Prov. 26:25.
- Prov. 28:14.
- Matt. 12:34.
- Matt. 5:28.
- Matt. 6:21.
- Mark 7:21–23.
- Luke 6:45.
- Luke 21:34.