From the Pulpit...

In this lesson from Proverbs, we contemplate what the sages say about the heart of a man. The heart is the "control center" of a man. The heart is most often used in Scripture to refer to the immaterial aspect of a man, as opposed to the organ in the body. Terms such as mind, soul, and spirit are practically synonyms for the heart in the Bible when it is referring to the immaterial aspect of man. The heart is the seat of man's emotions or passions, as well as the seat of man's volition, choices, and intellect. The book of Proverbs makes the observations that emotions are personal and not easily understood by others, emotions can be concealed and hidden, and emotions are affected by desires of the heart. Scripture does not condemn all emotions, but Scripture ought to cultivate, guide, and at times restrain man's emotions.