Watch Your Output!

Many of us are very careful about what we eat.  Plenty of fruits and veggies. High Fiber. Low Carb. Low Fat.

It seems to come up in conversations a lot, even as a joke. But that would indicate that we are at least aware of what's good and what's not good for us. We've been educated about what goes into our bodies and the effect that it can have on our health.

That's not bad.

But are we paying attention to what's really important?

"And He said, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person'" (Mark 7:20-23).

Rather than concentrating solely on what we eat, we need to look at what's coming out of us.

What are our words revealing about our hearts?

Complaining? Bitter? Grumpy? Gossiping? Lying? Angry?

What are our actions revealing about our hearts?

Stealing? Immorality? Lusting? Coveting? Violence? Outbursts?

It is important to watch what you eat, but more importantly we need to watch what's coming out in our words and actions.

Our words and actions reveal what's in our hearts.

They reveal a dissatisfaction. An emptiness is there that we are trying to fill with someone or something else. We're seeking to be satisfied with something other than Jesus.

And just like we can change our diets, we can also let God change our hearts.

Take an evaluation of what's coming out. Or ask someone else to evaluate you.

Confess and repent and let God do the work!

People to Avoid

We like to have friends. We like to have conversations.

But we have to be picky about both of them.

Sometimes it's in the church foyer.

Sometimes it's over the phone.

Sometimes it's over a cup of coffee at McDonald's.

Sometimes it's an online chat.

And sometimes we enjoy hearing it.

We listen to what others are saying about someone else. Our intent is not to figure out how to help the third person. Not even in prayer.

We just want to hear what's going on.

We like the gossip.

And sometimes we're the giver, not the receiver.

Proverbs 20:19 warns, "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."

Stay away from those who are constantly babbling about others. They may be talking about others, but they are revealing their own hearts.

And the more their heart spills over into yours, the more you will become like them.

Watch your words and watch your friends' words.

Your heart is showing

You can tell a lot about a person by what they talk about.

Kids, spouse, work, school, career, hobbies, cars, homes, money. All those are great topics of conversation and are things that we should be talking about.

But as you listen to others and to yourself, what topics keep popping up?

Even if it's not in a false bragging way, just talking about something a lot reveals what is important to that person.

Those things that we treasure, we talk about. We want everyone to know about our new car. We let others know how great our kids are in school and sports. We rave about last night's dinner creation. We show off our new home.

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34).

So every time you talk about your treasures, you are revealing your heart.

Think about what you talked about yesterday. What was the topic of conversation over the weekend?

What are your treasures?

What does that reveal about your heart?

Don't you find yourself in some conversations just itching to say something about yourself? Relay a story to top the last story. Talk about something that you know that no one else knows about. Let people know the people you know and the places you've been.

All too often our greatest treasure is our self. Numero uno.

Now think about the things that you didn't talk about yesterday. What things do you say are important, yet you haven't said anything about them for a week?

Have you told anyone that Jesus died for their sins in the last week?

Have you let anyone know how they can get to heaven?

Have you told anyone what God has been teaching you?

What you talk about reveals your treasures, which reveals your heart.

What does your heart look like?

Too Busy Serving

Martha and Mary, two famous sisters in the Bible. Two different attitudes.

When Jesus came to visit, Martha got busy serving. Fixing a meal. Tidying things up.

Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet to listen to Him teach.

Martha finally got some upset with her sister that she spoke up.

"Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." (Luke 10:40).

Don't you just love it when someone talks about you in third person when you're standing right there?

Look at Martha's attitude. The first part of the verse says that she was "distracted with much serving." And Jesus' answer reveals more of her heart, "You are anxious and troubled about many things" (v 41).

It looks like Martha was trying to hide her heart by keeping busy. Keep doing lots of good things and no one will notice the struggles in my heart.

But just the opposite was true. Her activity revealed her heart. Perhaps she didn't want to be confronted with the truth that Jesus was speaking. Perhaps she didn't want to get cornered into making a decision. So she just kept busy in the kitchen.

And she wanted to make Mary out to be the bad guy. "She's making me do all the work! Command her to help me!"

But really she was again revealing her heart by talking about herself and her needs. It was all about her. It wasn't about Mary. It wasn't about Jesus. She was busy and she thought everyone else should be, too.

Don't we get the same way as Martha? Even guys can get themselves distracted with too much serving in order to avoid listening.

There are so many things to get done. Church activities. School activities. Family activities. And yeah, and besides that, I have to go to work every day to support my family.

Did you notice that Jesus didn't tell Martha to stop serving? He didn't say, "Just sit down here and listen. Take a break."

He revealed her heart by looking at her actions and words.

So why do you keep so busy? Are you hiding from God and His Word? Are you worried more about appearances than your relationship with Jesus?