4 Things We Say Versus What Jesus Said

There are many sayings commonly used today that are contradictory to what the Bible says. These sayings are based on worldly ideas rather than what Jesus says. In fact, believing these sayings can actually cause harm and separation from God. Today we will look at 4 things we say versus what Jesus said.

Life & Death Are in the Power of the Tongue

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This proverb indicates something that is often overlooked: words are powerful. Words cannot kill, but they can cause damage. Words can also build up or tear down. Spoken words can lead to either a positive or negative reaction. All that being said, what we speak comes with consequences.

This fact is true especially where our spiritual lives are concerned. If we are not Biblically sound, we can fall into the trap of using worldly ideas that only serve to separate us from the truth of God’s Word. That is why it is important to look at the things we say versus what Jesus says.

(To Learn Just How Powerful Your Words Are, Click Here)

4 Things We Say Verses What Jesus Said

There are several examples of popular sayings we use today that totally contradict what Jesus says in the Bible. I believe that these “mantras” are preventing people from knowing who God really is, what He does for us and what He wants for us.

“Follow Your Heart”

People often ask others for advice about their careers, marriage or anything that relates to making important choices in life.  A common recommendation is to “follow your heart.” Although this seems like solid advice, it’s not Biblical at all.

The Bible declares in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” If you really think about it, this verse is sobering. The bottom line is that we cannot trust our hearts.

The heart is unpredictable. It is the seat of our emotions and cannot be trusted. Day by day our emotions wax and wane. The truth is, if everyone followed their hearts, they would change their minds over and over again. Furthermore, if everyone followed their hearts, there would be a lot of people doing things that they may not be qualified to do.

Jesus Said…

Jesus said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19).

Rather than follow our wicked and deceitful hearts, we should follow Jesus. He is the One who also said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Why would we put our trust in a fickle heart whose emotions go back and forth, when we can follow the One who gave up His life to make sure that we would have an abundant life? Following Jesus is the answer; the solid answer.

Remember, for God, it’s all about the heart. He is looking for those whose hearts are fixed on Him. For example, the Bible tells us that King David was successful not because he trusted his own heart, but because He was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). Turn your heart towards the Lord and you will find that your “desires” become what He desires for you.

“Believe in Yourself”

Many people would say that you can do anything if you just “believe in yourself.” Advice like this resonates with us because it makes us feel as if we have some kind of control. Honestly, believing in yourself can lead to negative outcomes, especially if your motivation comes from an unfavorable place.

Human beings are often fixated on things that are rooted in the wrong principles. We often stand firm on specific beliefs that keep us from exploring alternatives. This, in turn, leads to closed-mindedness. In addition, believing in ourselves can promote negative behaviors. Allow me to explain…

If you are rude, ill-informed, unskilled or condescending, for example, believing in yourself is probably not going to reverberate well with others. We need to know our limitations and flaws and understand that even if we believe in ourselves, we may not experience life the way we would like to.

Jesus said…

Jesus said, “Believe in Me” (John 14:1) and “Deny Yourself” (Matthew 16:24).

Christians should understand that this life we live is all about Jesus and NOT about ourselves. If we put all our confidence in what WE know and do, it could become a challenge to determine whether or not we are coming from a place of humble confidence or prideful arrogance.

We are going to fair much better when we believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross. When we acknowledge all that Jesus did, we are then able to deny ourselves and put our faith and trust in Him. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord.

(To Learn More About What Jesus Did for Us, Click Here)

(To Learn More about Humility, Click Here)

“Do What Makes You Happy”

Let’s be honest, happiness comes and goes. Something may make us happy one week and the next week… well, it’s just okay.

Rather than doing what makes us happy, the Bible emphasizes desiring a deeper, more lasting joy that comes from seeking the Lord and having a relationship with Him.

Doing what makes us happy often involves partaking in sinful behavior and ignoring God’s standards. If you find yourself in situations like this, proceed with caution. Happiness is fleeting. Don’t sacrifice your life for simple moments of pleasure.

True happiness is the joy that comes from the Lord. It requires us aligning our actions with God’s will. Now, being in God’s will may sometimes include personal sacrifice or making choices that don’t necessarily lead to happiness. Remember, we are looking beyond the present and aiming for fullness of joy, not short periods of happiness. Our focus should be on following Jesus, living a righteous life and serving others.

Jesus said…

Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

There is life after death. If we constantly search for things that provide us with temporary happiness in this world, we can miss the eternal component of life. So what if you have all the latest and greatest technology, the nicest car and biggest house? You can’t take any of that with you when you die. If you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have anything. Again, happiness fades, Jesus remains.

(If You Don’t Believe that God is Real, Click Here)

“Live Your Truth”

The most annoying saying today is “live your truth.” I cringe and roll my eyes every time someone says it. Society has watered down the word “truth” so much so that anything and everything can be considered the truth. This personal truth is all based on someone’s personal opinion. It’s ridiculous.

Living your truth is dangerous. What if your personal truth is detrimental to another person? Where do we draw the line between someone’s truth and morality? What gives one person’s truth credence over another person’s truth?

You see, when truth becomes subjective rather than objective, lines are crossed and harmful ideologies are pushed. It doesn’t matter what personal “truth” people are “living.” These people “living their truth” could be deranged lunatics who believe anything they are told. As the actual truth becomes less and less important, society falls into a trap that is not easy to escape from. We must be careful allowing people to determine what their truths are.

(To Learn More About Absolute Truth, Click Here)

Jesus said…

Jesus said, “I am the Truth” (John 14:6).

We need to stand firm on THE truth and that truth comes from the Word of God. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Word, so everything that He says is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

(To Learn More About John 1:1, Click Here)

I believe that the cliché “live your truth” was designed to place more emphasis on self rather than God. It is pushed heavily on society so that people will turn away from the Lord Jesus. If you want to know the truth, open your Bible and read it. That is where you will find the truth.

Jesus said in John 8:31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Result of Believing & Living By These Sayings

When you live by these sayings rather than what Jesus said, you negate the power of God and strip Him of His rightful place in your life. This will lead to idolatry – the idolatry of self. Self-importance is arrogance and that stems from pride. Be careful putting yourself on a pedestal.

God is our Creator. Our lives are in His hands. Why would trust yourself when God knows all things, sees all things, orchestrates all things and controls all things? Putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ is always going to be the best way to live. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8), He has a plan for all of us (Jeremiah 29:11) and His Word is full of promises that He makes directly to us.

(To Learn More about the Promises of God, Click Here).

Blessings,

Amy

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please feel free to share your insights, experiences or questions in the comments section at the bottom of the page.