By Machelle McDowell
January 25, 2023
Ahhh how sweet….when we see a double heart emoji our brain prompts a warm feeling that comes over us.
Sometimes couples will use the double heart emoji in a wedding setting to represent their hearts being united and beating as one.
Wow! The Bible has a unique twist on the double heart concept.
Psalm 12:2 sets the scene for a totally different connotation of the meaning of the “double heart”. “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” What?
This passage outlines a time in David’s life when those around him were speaking out of both sides of their mouths. A time in which he felt very much alone simply because he did not know who he could trust other than God himself.
Thomas Adams describes it like this: They speak with a double heart. One for the church, another for the change; one for Sundays, another for working days; one for the king, another for the pope. A man without a heart is a wonder, but a man with two hearts is a monster.”
The Bible has much to say about being double minded/double hearted which are one in the same.
God did not create us to have (2) minds or (2) hearts. He created us to have one of each and for the mind and the heart to love God and others. “Love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30.
Honestly, if you hear of another human being having (2) minds or (2) hearts, it is a phenomenon and rare.
There is a reason for that! God intends for us to be completely submissive to him. One mind one accord.
This might be a silly example but I recently read that an octopus has (3) hearts! The main heart pumps blood to the whole of its body, (but) one pumps blood to certain of its gills (legs) and the other pumps blood to the other gills.
Now, picture with me…Even though there are (3) hearts they each have a specific job to do. In essence they can’t serve 3 masters. The heart that pumps blood into the gills (legs) of the octopus cannot pump blood into the body or the legs will die without its life blood…are you following me?
We cannot serve (2) masters. That’s what happens when we are double minded/double hearted…we are trying to serve 2 masters. We crave the world but want Christ too.
Satan’s favorite tool is a double minded Christian. In his/her weakness he finds strength…If you are restless and confused you are a choice morsel for him….If you sense a lack of direction, he will not hesitate to guide you…. If you lack God’s confidence and lean on your own, do not be surprised if God does not grant your prayers…..I speak truth friend not out of arrogance but love:
James 1:5-8 calls a double minded man “unstable.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
We either believe or we don’t. We either love God or not. We can’t be certain & doubt at the same time.
David is saying in summary, “Christian, you can’t speak Christ and live with the devil.” Pick one. Who will you serve?