Ecclesiastes 10:2
One of the more popular movie franchises is Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. The main character is Captain Jack Sparrow, and he carries around an interesting compass. Now, this is no ordinary compass. Jack’s compass isn’t calibrated to true north. Instead, his compass points in the direction of whatever his heart desires. The human heart is much like a broken compass. Our direction in life is determined by the devotion of our heart. Those who are wise head in the right direction, but fools go in the wrong direction. In Ecclesiastes 10:2, Solomon is quick to point out the reason that a fool heads in the wrong direction. It all has to do with the devotion of his heart.
In Scripture, the ‘heart’ refers to the core of a person’s being, the inside part of every person that either loves or does not love God. It can be defined as the center of affection, the seat of knowledge, the source of purpose, and the very soul of the spiritual life. The heart reveals who a person is and what a person lives for. Everything in life follows the heart. The wise person goes in the right way because his heart leans the right way. The foolish person goes in the wrong direction because his heart is so inclined.
Nothing is more important in your life than the devotion of your heart, for it determines the direction of your life. This is a constant emphasis throughout the Bible. For instance, Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” In Matthew 15:19, Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
Devotion determines direction. Fools head in the wrong direction because fools are led by the wrong devotion. And wherever our heart is, our feet will soon follow. If you want direction in life, the place to start is making sure that your heart is in the right place. Have you ever heard of someone having a ‘change’ of heart? Well, the wisdom of the gospel changes the heart of a person. God gives a new heart to those who trust Christ.
For more, read Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26
