One of the mantras of our age is “Follow your heart.” Generally, this is not a life rule supported by scripture. We have, for example,

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17.9, ESV)

But sometimes one’s heart is in the right place as David’s was in 1 Chronicles 17. He had just fetched the Ark of the Covenant and brought it to Jerusalem and established regular worship. He felt bad that he lived in a nice house while the Ark was in a tent (of course the ONLY prescribed place for the Ark was a tent! See Exodus 25 – 40).

After the king had made himself at home, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look at this: Here I am comfortable in a luxurious palace of cedar and the Chest of the Covenant of GOD sits under a tent.” (1 Chronicles 17.1, MSG)

In other words, I want to build a temple. And Nathan, man of God, discerner of David’s heart, responded enthusiastically:

Nathan told David, “Whatever is on your heart, go and do it; God is with you.” (1 Chronicles 17.2, MSG)

“Follow your heart!” Especially when you have God’s interests in mind!

Not so fast…

But that night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell my servant David, This is GOD’s word on the matter: You will not build me a ‘house’ to live in. Why, I haven’t lived in a ‘house’ from the time I brought up the children of Israel from Egypt till now; I’ve gone from one tent and makeshift shelter to another. In all my travels with all Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’ ” (1 Chronicles 17.3 – 6, MSG)

And God goes on to promise that God will build David’s “house,” a permanent dynasty.

But our point today is that “follow your heart” is not the only decision-making criterion. I shared a multi-part decision-making framework recently.

[Paul’s missionary team] went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. (Acts 16.6, 7, MSG)

PS I just read a modern-day example. Stay tuned.