FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 7, number 31, July 31, 2008
The mouth speaks that which fills the heart, Matthew 12:34.
The Heart of the Matter
In the spring of 333 B.C. Alexander of Macedon was well on his way to conquering the Persian Empire which stretched from Libya in North Africa to the Indus valley. While making his way through Phrygia in modern day north central Turkey, he came to the town of Gordium which was famous for the Gordian Knot. Tradition said that Gordius, the son of Midas, left a wagon on the acropolis at the Temple of Zeus which had an intricate knot called a Turks head that tied the yoke to the wagon. The one who was able to untie the knot could expect to become lord of Asia. At the time Alexander had trouble back home in Macedon, Athens, and Achaia. While on his campaign to conquer the world his old enemies were rebelling against him. His dilemma was this- should he return to Greece and take care of the uprising or should he continue to Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis? Alexander could not resist the temptation to attempt to untie the Gordian Knot. A large entourage of his top officers and Phrygians of renown were watching him. He was unable to do it so with one swipe of his sword he cut the knot and then untied it easily. That night his army slept through a terrible thunder storm and his seer told him that Zeus had smiled upon him, that surely he was to continue his Persian conquest and not return to Greece for he would become lord of Asia.
Alexander wanted something from his idols, and we tend to do the same. I am not denying that difficult circumstances, temperament, physical illness, fatigue, or even the devil are major contributors to depression; but many people experience these things and do not suffer from them. We must go deeper in dealing with this problem. I suggest the foundation or root cause of depression is idolatry in the heart. We tend to be ruled by pride which reveals itself in self-absorption (it’s all about me), self-actualization (I need to accomplish things so that I can feel good about myself), and self-adoration (I want others to adore or worship me). By idolatry I mean giving first place to any person, place, or thing. Idolatry is worshipping the creature rather than the Creator, Romans 1:20ff. If you make your children your idol, if you put your love for them above that of God, then it is because you want something from them. You want to feel good about yourself, you want to find peace, happiness, and delight in them instead of God. And when they don’t deliver, you will feel short-changed, depressed, bitter, or angry.
Idolatry is a heart issue. Solomon told us to watch over our hearts with all diligence for from them flow the springs of life. Jesus said the mouth speaks that which fills the heart. What you say, what you do, what you feel and think about, what highly motivates you, what captures your imagination is due to what rules your heart. Your heart is the very center of who you are, and it asks the why questions of life. Why work, why love, why rest, why spend money, why marry, why have children, why do anything? If you worship anything other than God then know that these idols will eventually disappoint you, and when they do, you will suffer depression or some other spiritual problem like bitterness, anger, despair, or an unforgiving spirit.
So what should you do to curb your idolatry? The Apostle Paul gives us help in this regard in Philippians 4:6, 7, "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." First, Paul tells us what not to do. We are not to worry, have anxiety (literally in the Greek, we are not to have a divided mind). This is easier said than done however. When someone tells you not to worry, not to be angry, not to lust- what do you do? You involuntarily go to the very things you wish to avoid. So Paul goes further with positive help, telling us to pray. Here’s what he means in the context of idols in the heart- when you put your children, your job, your spouse, your money ahead of Christ, and when these disappoint you, bringing upon you depression, anger, despair, bitterness, or an unforgiving spirit, then you must immediately pray. More specifically, you must worship and adore God. Quickly remind yourself of what you know about God the Father. Talk to God, telling Him of His glory, majesty, dominion, power, sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness. Talk to Jesus, praising Him for His divine and human natures, His sinlessness, His atoning death which takes away your sin and gives you right standing before our Holy God. Talk to the Holy Spirit, praising Him for how He is working holiness in you, how He comforts and sustains you. And then make supplication. In other words, make specific requests of the Father. Tell Him how you feel, how angry you are, how disappointed you are, how anxious or depressed you are. And confess your sin very specifically to Him. And then quickly thank Him for all the blessings He has given you- your family, health, job, and all the glories of your salvation- your justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification.
And why is this important? It’s not merely because prayer can make you feel better. It’s not because prayer can take your mind off your problems. To stop here is mere psychology. Prayer does much more than these. You pray, pouring out your heart to God, because in your cry He promises actually to do something. He promises to give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. He literally comes to you, supernaturally giving you peace which the world can never give. What a remarkable promise from our loving Father! This peace, which God gives, will guard, or quite literally garrison, your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus. That is, for a period of time, your crying out to God puts your heart back in right order, removing the idols from your heart, and because your idols have been dethroned, the hardships or difficult circumstances which come your way will not devastate you. You will be able to weather those storms, at least for the time being, because you have returned God to His rightful place as Lord of your heart.
Are you an angry person? Are you depressed? Are you anxious and worried? Look much deeper than your circumstances. They do not make you the way you are. They simply reveal what rules your heart. Instead put into practice the marvelous promise of Philippians 4:6, 7. You no doubt will need to do this many times a day, but this is God’s remedy for spiritual problems. Look deeply inside your heart. Guard the affections of your heart. When praise and thanksgiving come from your mouth, when holy living marks your life, then this is proof positive God is where He needs to be. It proves that your idols have been dethroned.
FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS is a weekly devotional by Reverend Al Baker, pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church in West Hartford, Connecticut.
If you would like to add your, or someone else’s, name to the list to receive this weekly devotional (or be removed from it), please contact us at admin@christcpc.org. This and archived back-issues may also be found on our website, www.ChristCPC.org