”A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Proverbs 21:2New International Version (NIV)
Proverbs 21:2 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
The Lord weighs the heart
Proverbs 21:2 states that “the Lord weighs the heart“. Therefore, you ought to always carefully examine your heart, which includes your motives and reasons, because God examines the same. And this is all because you (and everyone else) usually think that your way is right. That the course you have chosen, the manner of life you live, or your habits are right (though they may lead to death (Proverbs 14:12)).
Your life is a function of your choices
In other words, your life is a function of your choices. Therefore, as you choose what you will and will not do, you will feel that you have made the best choice.
But when the Lord weighs your heart by pitting your ways against His standards, He may find that you have fallen short. Therefore, while you may think your ways are correct, the same may fall short before God.
For example, you may choose to help someone who is in need. But your motive, which is hidden to men, but not to God, maybe to look good before the person you have helped or others.
So while your actions may look good to those around you, on the inside they are seasoned with selfishness. And this is the case when you do things to be appreciated, to cover your weaknesses or perfectionism, to appear successful, to appear strong, or even to avoid conflict.
Your acts or practice of righteousness
Further, your acts or practice of righteousness may be affected too by the discord between your actions and your motives. The Bible contains many records of such happenings.
Nevertheless, in Matthew 6, Jesus taught about how you ought to practice your righteousness. In verse 1, He started by teaching that you need to “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” And He ended by teaching that “If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Giving
Jesus then used three fundamental practices of righteousness to illustrate His point. He first used the practice of giving to the needy, where He taught that you “should not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others” (Matthew 6:2). That is, you should give in secret (Matthew 6:4).
Praying
The Lord Jesus also taught that when you pray, you should “not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray while standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others” (Matthew 6:5). That “when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6a).
Fasting
Finally, Jesus taught that “when you fast”, you “should not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting” (Matthew 6:16). And from His three illustrations, you can notice that God will weigh your heart when you practice your righteousness to be seen by others.
God weighs your heart
All in all, God weighs your heart as far as your actions are concerned (Proverbs 21:2). Therefore, you have to think or consider each course of action that you want to take before you take it.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, help me not to think that my ways are right. Please weigh my heart and reveal to me where and how I fall short of being right before You. This is my humble prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Psalms 132-138 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
