Well we come to our 3rd sermon of 4 in a series called Misused scriptures. In it, we are considering some scriptures that are often taken out of context and misapplied in various areas in our world today. We see this done by both Christians and Atheists.

Today’s sermon title is called Desires of my Heart, and the scripture we will explore comes to us from Psalm 37. Consider

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4

Some people take this verse and pervert it into saying God rewards people’s faith with increases in physical health and/or wealth if that is what they want, or desire.

Notice in Psalm 37 the word Delight… To take delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. If we truly find satisfaction and worth in Christ, THEN He will give us the longings or delights of our hearts.

Does that mean, if we go to church every Sunday, God will give us a new Rolls Royce if we want it? No. The idea behind this verse is when we truly “delight” in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel God’s will and our desires will never go unfulfilled. In others words our desires match or come into agreement with God’s plans for us.

Consider Jesus words in Matthew

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. —Matthew 6:33

Notice the order here, FIRST- seek God and His kingdom…Then things will be given to you. What things? These are in the previous verses, 25-32, where Jesus is teaching about material needs… food, drink, clothing.

Many people delight in wealth, status, material possessions, and other temporary things of this world, but they are never satisfied. This is the lesson King Solomon learned in his pursuit of earthly treasure

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. —Ecclesiastes 1:3

He essentially says, Everything is meaningless! Consider that Soloman as King, had everything a person in his day could have…Every material thing that is, and yet he found no real meaning or pleasure in those things.

Also in context, this verse shows us that the Psalm 37:4 meaning cannot be a personal promise that God will give us what we want when we want it. Rather, this passage is a promise that even when life isn’t going our way God is still in control.

Psalm 37 is a life lesson. Play the long game. Those things we think we need to be happy in the moment don’t often lead to true happiness and satisfaction. Only following God and what he says is best will lead us to true satisfaction.

We will never be deeply fulfilled, find joy or “be happy” with the things this world has to offer. The Message that we can have whatever we want only ends with frustration and disappointment because it is based on OUR desires or having Faith in The World.

Paul reminds us it’s not about us

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20

That’s a primary key of what we need to understand, LOVE GOD not Stuff!

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5

If we truly place priority on the Lord, chances are our heart’s greatest desire will not be a brand-new Rolls Royce, but eternal treasures in Christ, both here on earth and certainly in eternity.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. —Hebrews 11:6

You can see in this verse our faith is meant to please God and not us! And also notice the term God rewards those who seek Him. That reward is God Himself! Those who diligently “sought” and “walked with” with God will be rewarded with God’s presence in their lives.

Compare this to God telling Abram

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” —Genesis 15:1

This world can never satisfy our deepest longings. Material things are certainly necessary and needed, but seldom fully satisfy our inward most needs. That’s part of what Solomon meant in our earlier Ecclesiastes 1:3 scripture.

When we choose to delight in God’s way, He will always provide above and beyond our expectations. Jesus said

Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. —John 4:14

So maybe today you have suffered from misplaced desires. The desires of your heart lead you to a place of acting with the flesh…hey we ALL have been there Amen?

So take delight in the Lord and find fulfillment in JESUS. If we truly find satisfaction and worth in Christ, He will give us the longings or delights of our hearts.