The Bible tells us that we will be blessed if we keep the Lord’s testimonies and commandments and seek to please Him with our whole hearts.
Psalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psalms 119:34 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Wholehearted means that our hearts are not divided into parts. Are our hearts being divided in one of these areas?
- The way we talk about God’s goodness to others? Do we talk one way to our pastor and other church members, but then talk a completely different way to those who are not Christians.
Psalms 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works (to everyone)
- The way we treat our husbands and other family members? Many times the hardest people to be sweet and kind are those who are closest to us.
Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
- The way we pray for others. It is easy to say, “I will be praying for you.” …but then we forget to pray.
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
- The way we dress? Are we dressing the way God, our husbands, and our pastors desire for us to dress. We must be willing to submit ourselves to those who are an authority in our lives and submit ourselves to them.
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
- The way we encourage others. Sometimes, we get our feelings hurt, because others haven’t encouraged us the way that we think they should…but think back…when was the last time that we encouraged them?
Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
I once read an article about Queen Mary. She made it her practice to visit Scotland every year. She was so loved by the people that she often mingled with them freely without an escort. One afternoon, while walking with a group of children, some dark clouds came up unexpectedly. She stopped at a nearby house to borrow an umbrella. She knocked on the door and explained to the woman who answered the door, “If you will lend me an umbrella, I will send it back to you tomorrow.” Since the woman did not recognize the Queen , she was reluctant to give this stranger her best umbrella, and she handed the Queen an umbrella that she intended to throw away. This umbrella was torn in several places and had several broken ribs.
The next day another knock was heard at the door. When the woman opened the door, she was greeted by a royal guard, who was holding in his hand the woman’s old, tattered umbrella. “The Queen sent me,” he said. “She asked me to thank you for loaning her your umbrella.” For a moment the woman was stunned, then, she burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed,” she cried. “I did not give the Queen my very best!”
What a great illustration to consider. Are we giving the King of Kings our very best and our whole hearts?