The Problem of the Heart is the Heart of the Problem

Let me tell you about my ongoing saga with lawnmowers. For some reason, I can’t seem to keep one that works. No matter what I do, they break down, and buying a new one? That’s just too expensive. It’s frustrating, to say the least.

The last mower I had was a real head-scratcher. I took it out of the garage, hopped on, and it started up without a hitch. I was feeling good, even put on my audiobook, and backed it up to start mowing the embarrassingly tall grass in my front yard. Everything was going smoothly until, almost completing the first loop around the yard, the mower sputtered out.

I thought, “Silly me! I forgot to put gas in it.” So, I went to the garage, grabbed the gas can, filled up the mower, and returned the can. But when I tried to start the mower again, it wouldn’t turn over. Nothing.

I checked the engine—though I had no idea what I was looking at—sat back down, turned the key… still nothing. By this point, my frustration was through the roof. Then I noticed gas spewing out of the engine. That couldn’t be good.

I ended up pushing the mower back to the garage and called a guy to mow my lawn. While he was there, I asked him to take a look at my mower. Later, he texted me, “Your head gasket is cracked.” I had no idea what that meant, so I Googled it—and it wasn’t good news. The engine, the heart of the mower, was broken. No amount of gas, new spark plugs, or fresh oil was going to fix it. The mower was dead because its heart was broken.

This got me thinking: how many of us are trying to move forward in life, to walk in victory, to become who God has called us to be, but feel stuck? We try everything—work harder, make more money, get organized, even go to therapy or read self-help books. But like my mower, none of these things solve the real issue because the problem isn’t with the outside—it’s a heart problem.

In our current sermon series, “The Test,” we’re digging into the book of James, looking at the different tests we face in life. James teaches us that God desires for us to live a life that’s whole and complete, or as we learned in week one, a “teleios” life—a life that’s mature, whole, and ready.

But how do we get there? It all starts with the heart.

When the Bible talks about the heart, it’s not referring to the physical organ pumping blood through our bodies. It’s talking about who we are at our core—our thoughts, emotions, will, moral life, and spiritual condition.
That’s why Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) tells us:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

And in Proverbs 27:19 (NLT), we read:
“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”

Jesus Himself made it clear in Matthew 15:18-19 (NLT):
“But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.”

In other words, you can’t hide what’s in your heart. If your heart is in the wrong place, it will eventually show up in your actions.

So many of us are like my broken lawnmower. We try everything we can think of to fix what’s wrong in our lives, but nothing seems to work because the problem is at the heart level. The Bible tells us that our hearts, left on their own, will never naturally follow God. Instead, they are full of pride, focused on self-promotion, self-preservation, and self-protection.

But there’s hope.

James 4:6-8 (NLT) gives us the solution:
“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

The heart of man is rooted in pride, but the heart of Jesus is rooted in humility. To experience true transformation, we need to exchange our broken, prideful hearts for a heart that mirrors Jesus. This starts with humility—acknowledging our need for God and submitting to His authority.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and feeling stuck, maybe it’s time for a heart check. Draw close to God, let Him work in your life, and watch as He gives you the strength to resist the enemy and walk in victory. Remember, a change at the heart level makes all the difference.

So, how’s your heart today?