Why is the Heart Deceitful?

Why is the Heart Deceitful?

We are exhorted by the Word of God to not lean on our own understanding, but to trust in the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5). Yet, oftentimes, we choose to trust our own heart; we choose to trust ourselves. Do you know that trusting the heart is just another way of trusting in man?

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Now, why did the prophet Jeremiah say this? Why did he warn the people to be cautious about the directions and inclinations of the heart?

It has everything to do with what happened to the people of Judah. Instead of giving their devotion and obedience to the true and living God, who had blessed them, the Jews followed the dictates of their evil hearts which eventually led them astray.

The Folly of Trusting You Own Heart

It’s interesting that the Bible calls it foolishness to trust and follow your own heart.

The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart. Indeed, our heart often deceives us. It convinces us that heart-fulfillment is the key to happiness. Our heart tells us that if we would just be true to it and fulfill all its desires then we will be happy. However, what we desire is often not what we need.

But the human heart is not only deceitful but also desperately wicked. By following their heart without judging it by the measure of God’s truth, many people have been led to disobedience, rebellion, and eventually great sorrow. I’d say the advice to “always follow your heart” is not good advice at all.

God Has Given Us a New Heart

As believers under the New Covenant, we have a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), we have been made a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and have become a new man according to the image of our Creator (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24).

Ezekiel 36:26

Although there are still some elements of sin and flesh remaining in us and we still have to deal with inward deceit and wickedness, we can be confident that the Lord will give us the strength and grace to overcome. We just need to trust in the Lord to guide and lead us and allow Him to carry out His plans and purpose in our lives.

God searches the heart and mind and knows exactly how to reward each one of us. If we want to know how our hearts are like, we must read the Word and let the Spirit teach us.

God is Continually Transforming Our Hearts

In Philippians 2:12-13, the apostle Paul exhorts us to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who is working in us.”

A very important note in regard to this verse. Paul is definitely not saying that we must work to earn our salvation. Rather, Paul calls the Philippians (and every believer today) to put forth real effort into their Christian lives. The Christian is to make evident in every area of their lives the salvation that God has given them freely.

God does not automatically make you a sanctified Christian. You have to put the work into it to foster that relationship with God.

It’s kind’ a like a plant. After a seed is planted in fertile soil, it sprouts. That is when salvation occurs, but it is only a baby plant. Now, it needs to grow, but if it does not have the right conditions, it can’t grow.

We need the water of the Word and sunlight. God is described in many places in the Bible as being the Light (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19; John 8:12; 1 John 1:5). We need an unobstructed view of the Light. We need to make sure we do not have any obstructions in our view.

God is our main priority, our main focus. And our main motive is our love for God. You may want to read Deuteronomy 5:29 again.

Has God Changed Your Heart?

As people, we are predisposed to sin. Why? It’s because our hearts desire to sin. We are not able to change that. Romans 7:18 says “nothing good dwells in men.” So when God saves us, He saves us by first allowing our hearts to change.

As I said earlier, sanctification is not automatic after salvation. We did not automatically get a heart for God the moment we got born again. Rather, we need to allow God to work in us and through us. And it starts by submitting to the will of God as shown by our obedience to Him and His commandments.

In his appeal to Israel, Moses urged the people to remember the majesty of God and respect the Word of God. He quoted Yahweh’s own words, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever” (Deuteronomy 5:29)!

Obedience is always a matter of the heart, and if we love the Lord, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21-24). There is no conflict between the greatness of God and the grace of God, His transcendence and His immanence, for we can love the Lord and fear the Lord with the same heart (Psalm 2:10-12; 34:8-9).

Why is the Heart Deceitful?

As God changes our hearts, we will fear Him more and more. When we love Him, we will keep His commandments. God does not want us to be petrified of Him. He is our Father.

Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

We are children of God and He wants to bless us for our obedience. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30 that we can “swap our burden of sin, for His burden is light.” Why? It’s because we want to live for Him.

Are you serious about putting your heart, soul, mind, and strength into loving God? If not, why not start now? God has done so much for you, how are you going to say thank you to Him?

Closing Words

Why is the human heart deceitful and wicked? Because it often desires things that are contrary to what God wants for us. And if we let our own hearts make decisions without taking into consideration what the Word of God says, we will be led astray.

Let us learn from the Jewish people who allowed their hearts to turn away from the Lord and His truth. Consequently, they made unwise decisions and plunged the nation into ruin.

8 Replies to “Why is the Heart Deceitful?”

  1. This advice is very confusing for Christians.

    I agree I am deceitful, but now that I’ve been given a new heart in Christ, it’s new. It CAN be trusted.

    This idea that we have to go around believing our hearts are wicked and deceitful is defeating. It keeps good believers from being able to listen to God and trust him in life.

    I did this for years, even though I was saved by grace and washed in the blood of the Lamb, my commentary to myself was “my heart is deceitful, not to be trusted.” The enemy uses this to create doubt and fear.

    So yes Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful. But Jesus says, “I have given you a new heart.”

    1. Hi Jeff,

      I apologize that I couldn’t get hold of Michael so that he would be the one to address your concern.

      Anyway, here’s my take on this. Indeed, the Bible clearly says that the heart is deceitful; hence it should not be trusted.

      But you are right in saying that the moment we were born again, God has given us a new heart.

      I believe that what Michael is trying to say is for us, believers, to let God continually transform us. This is the phase or stage of salvation called “sanctification.”

      While God has already given us a new heart, there will still be times when we fail and falter in our walk with the Lord.

      I hope this makes sense to you. ☺

    2. Hey Jeff,

      Sorry for the delay.

      There is a difference between listening to God and listening to your own thoughts and heart. God’s general will for our lives is found in scripture. God never contracts scripture but our heart’s desire contradict scripture often.

      Our own sinfulness should humble us to always listen to God speaking. God’s direction is not mysterious. He told us His will in His word.

      Obey God’s general will found in scripture and He will direct us to more specific because we will know and see Him working.

      Jesus has given us a new heart but that does not mean the old heart was eradicated. Listening to God with the new heart has a learning curve and does not happen automatically.

      Growth is required also called sanctification. Glorification does not happen until we are in heaven.

      I hope that helps you.

    1. Hi Grace,

      So glad for you to come by and thank you for expressing your desire to receive your daily Bible verse. I will see to it that you will, starting a few day from now.

      Thank you and God bless you abundantly.

        1. Hi James,

          Thanks for stopping by and taking time to read this post. May the Lord touch the hearts of your leaders and may there be revival in the church.

          Blessings to you!

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