Think with Your Head, but Work with Your Heart

I’ve got brothers who are some of the most generous men you’ll ever meet. And I was the same way—always saying yes, always giving, always serving, sometimes to a fault. The danger in that is when we start thinking with our hearts instead of just working with them.

When we think with our hearts, emotions lead the way, and that can get us in trouble. We can get taken advantage of, overcommit ourselves, or neglect the priorities God has already placed before us. But when we work with our hearts, that’s passion, that’s love, that’s doing all things as unto the Lord.

God gave us a brain for a reason, but it must be renewed in Him. “We take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10:5 CJB). If your heart is in the right place, your mind will be transformed by Christ (Romans 12:2), giving you wisdom and discernment. That discernment helps you know when to say yes, when to say no, and when to trust God to handle the outcome.

It’s not our job to judge whether someone’s need is genuine. If a brother asks and we can help, we help. If they misuse that help, that’s between them and God—we forgive and let Him handle it. Our role is to act in love, not judgment.

So today—think with your head, letting Christ shape your thoughts, but work with your heart, letting passion and love fuel your actions. That’s the balance of wisdom and compassion that keeps us in step with Him.
 

-Rev Carlos Figueroa