In the pursuit of living a life that is pleasing to God, it is crucial to recognize and guard against the influence of certain emotions that can easily lead us astray. In the spiritual life, our emotions can often be a double-edged sword. While God has given us the capacity to feel deeply and passionately, we must be careful that our emotions do not lead us astray. I want to show you three emotions that can mislead us and provide biblical guidance on how to avoid being led by them.
1. Anger: The Deceptive Catalyst
Anger is a powerful emotion that can often cloud our judgment and lead us to make rash decisions. When we are consumed by anger, whether it is directed towards a person, a situation, or even towards God, we are tempted to lash out and take actions that we may later regret. The Bible warns us against this, as it is written in Proverbs 14:17, “A quick-tempered person does foolish things.” Before taking action, we must take a step back, calm down, and seek the wisdom of God.
Rather than allowing anger to dictate our choices, we must seek guidance from God. Through prayer, study of His Word, and the counsel of godly mentors, we can find the wisdom and discernment to navigate challenging situations without being led astray by the heat of our emotions. As Ephesians 4:26-27 instructs, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
2. Pleasure: The Alluring Trap
Pleasure is another emotion that can lead us astray. While it’s not wrong to enjoy the good things in life, seeking pleasure as the primary motivator can lead to poor decision-making. The Bible warns us about the dangers of loving pleasure more than loving God, stating, “For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:10, NIV). When we are in the grip of the desire for pleasure, we can become blind to the consequences of our actions and make choices that ultimately harm ourselves and those around us.
When we prioritize pleasure, we become susceptible to temptation and compromise. This can lead us to make choices that contradict our values and principles. To avoid this, we must subject our desires to the discerning power of the Holy Spirit. As Romans 8:5-6 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” By seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can make decisions that align with God’s will and not our own fleeting desires. We must submit even our desires for pleasure to the discerning power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Sentiments: The Misleading Illusion
Our sentiments, or personal feelings and opinions, can also be a deceptive influence in our lives. We all have deeply-held feelings and personal preferences that can shape our decision-making. We may be inclined to mistake our own subjective thoughts and emotions for divine leading, when in reality, they may be nothing more than the product of our own biases and preconceptions.
To avoid being misled by sentiment, we must be careful to distinguish between our emotions and the leading of the Holy Spirit. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” By submitting our emotions to God and seeking His guidance, we can avoid making decisions that are based on fleeting feelings rather than eternal principles.
Rather than blindly trusting our emotions, we must carefully test our feelings and inclinations against the clear teachings of Scripture and the counsel of mature believers. As the apostle Paul exhorts, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Conclusion
In conclusion, anger, pleasure, and sentiment are three emotions that can mislead us and lead us down a path of destruction. As believers, we must be aware of these emotions and take steps to avoid being led by them. By guarding against the deceptive power of anger, pleasure, and sentiments, and instead seeking the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, study of Scripture, and the counsel of godly mentors, we can walk confidently on the path that God has laid out for us.
May we be steadfast in our commitment to aligning our hearts and minds with the will of God, and may we find the courage to resist the temptations that would seek to pull us away from the righteous course He has set before us.