Should We Follow Our Heart?

Should We Follow Our Heart?

There is a modern-day way of life that says: “Follow your heart.” According to this philosophy, the way to happiness and freedom is to follow what your heart tells you to do. In a nutshell: if it feels good, do it. The problem is that this concept is fundamentally flawed for two important reasons.

First, the philosophy of “follow your heart” is inherently inconsistent.

No loving person would let a five-year-old eat an entire 64-ounce bag of tootsie rolls in one sitting. Why? Because eating that many tootsie rolls would not be good for the five-year-old’s health. Yet, upon what basis can a person who believes in the philosophy of “follow your heart” say to the five-year-old, “No, don’t follow your heart in eating all those tootsie rolls”? In other words, the person who promotes and preaches “follow your heart” limits others from following their heart, which ultimately is inconsistent with their philosophy. How can I follow my heart and yet not allow you to follow your heart?

Second, the philosophy of “follow your heart” is built upon a false view of human nature.

The truth is that we should not follow our hearts because our hearts are diseased. Jeremiah says our hearts are desperately wicked and sick (Jer 17:9). Following our hearts is foolish and leads to destruction (Prov 28:26). The problem with humanity is precisely the human heart. Therefore, following your heart is akin to curing cancer with more cancer.

Though many other answers could be given, the point is that we live in a time where the cultural norm says to “follow your heart.”

But thankfully, you and I are not left to our own devices. We don’t have to follow our hearts to find happiness and rest. The truth is, as Augustine said so many years ago, our hearts are restless until they find rest in God. We were made to have the deep longings of our hearts satisfied in God. So, instead of following your own heart, follow God’s heart into a relationship with him through Jesus Christ into true happiness and freedom.

Pastor Dan