From Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
At the beginning of chapter four, Tripp describes the heart of a person. He references the use of heart in the Bible. He says that “The Bible uses ‘heart’ to describe the inner person” (p.59). This use of heart “encompasses all the other terms and functions used to describe the inner person (spirit, soul, mind, emotions, will, etc.)”(p.59).With this in mind, there is a general understanding that one’s true person or nature is found within the heart. In this case, scripture confirms that the heart is where an accurate understanding of a person is found, and it is here that “any ministry of change must target” (p.60).
Tripp explains Luke 6:43-45 is “one of the most important word pictures in the New Testament” (p.60). It “reveals Christ’s perspective on how people function” and answers “Why do people do the things they do?” (p.60). In this passage, Christ states these truths:
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:43-45).
Tripp explains that in this metaphor “fruit equals behavior” and that “a tree produces fruit” while “our hearts produce behavior” (p.60). The reason why we do the things we do is because of “what is in our hearts” (p.60).
Unfortunately, even though the relationship with our hearts and the things we do are clearly associated, Tripp states that “we deny this connection and blame people and circumstances for our actions and words” (p.62). When applying this principle of the heart as a target, Tripp mentions that one’s “choices and actions reveal the desires” that rule their hearts (p.71). These desires that lead people to do the things they do; our desires are what functionally rule our hearts.
With this in mind, Tripp mentions that there are several applications that this principle has for personal growth and ministry (p.71). The first application is that “Our hearts are always being ruled by someone or something” (p.71). With this first application there must be awareness that our hearts are being ruled, and this rule is not always being controlled by us. Tripp says that “the things we set our hearts on” instead “capture, control, and enslave us” (p.73). This makes us worshippers by nature and therefore, “This worship shapes everything we do and say, who we are, and how we live” (p.73).
A second application is that “God changes us not just by teaching us to do different things, but by recapturing our hearts to serve him alone” (p.71). The second application shows us that “God changes us not just by teaching us different things, but by recapturing our hearts to serve him alone” (p.71). Because our hearts are being ruled, not by us, God sets His heart to overcome these rival rulers. Tripp mentions that “If adultery is the sin of giving someone the love I have promised another” then we are “spiritual adulterers” whenever we deny God the rule of our hearts and give it to someone else or something else (p.82). With this new submission of rule that occurs, we become unfaithful in our submission to God. “We shrink God from His position of all-wise, all-loving, all-powerful Father to a divine waiter we expect to deliver everything we ask” (p.83). In response to this unfaithfulness, Tripp explains that God in His character as a loving and wise Father will not let this be; He instead distorts our plans not giving us rest, and fights for the rule of our hearts (p.83).
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Reference: Tripp, Paul. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change. Philipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2002.348pp
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