While guarding one’s heart is probably not in the Bible as
dating advice, I sometimes wonder: why, even though some do read it as dating advice,
they leave it as just that—advice—and then act how they would like anyways,
sometimes following their “heart.” It is something that I was forced to think
about a lot over break. God wrestled with my bowels and liver and set my heart
on a new path.
[Just using *correct* O.T. metaphorical language:
bowels/liver/soul = seat of emotion (similar to modern term ‘heart’); heart =
center of one’s conscious being (similar to modern term ‘mind’).
Yes, that does mean that we often misread this passage! However,
while language difference (in metaphors) may be the culprit behind the misappropriation
of that classic Hebrew proverb (4:23), hence distorting the actual meaning,
etc., this point is only foundational to my thought.
If my heart is being guarded, I wouldn’t want to trust
myself with the task. Seriously, if I would sell my birthright for the right
pot of stew, then who knows what I would do with my heart (entire person) if my
heart (animal-like, love instinct) told me to! If guarding means merely doing
less of something (i.e. less alone time, less physical contact, less thinking
about someone), then, firstly, I’ve got that nailed on the head and should have
nothing to worry about—with my zero real girlfriends I’ve had; and secondly,
with no estimable timeframe placed on this command to guard your own heart, I
may be doomed to girl-less peril for eternity. Is it actually possible/wise to
guard your heart as we may commonly define it?
I’ll answer that one next time.
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