God Is concern about your heart not what knowledge we may have. Jesus told a story to some of the religious leaders of the day.

“”What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.“And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.” Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”

Matthew‬ ‭21:28-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

‭‭We look at these two sons the first son spoke from his head and acted out of his heart, the second also spoke from his head and acted from his heart, but their actions were completely different. The first son spoke out but decided to honor his father anyway, the second son honor himself. What you value you you will honor.

God judges the actions of our heart not the action from our head (mouth). There are many people that belong to or volunteer for a community-based organization because it logically sounds good. If they are just acting without a whole heart, it is just a good idea but not a God idea.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

We can be like those religious leaders (Pharisees) and speak one thing and act a completely another way. Before anyone of us begins to point fingers at others, we need to look at own heart. The Pharisee at the time of Jesus would set religious rules for the people to follow and be not following them themselves.

If we try to impose our standard (expectations) to someone else and their life is currently at a lower level, this can cause frustration to both of you. They will never measure up to your standard. All we can do is walk out your standard from your heart, others will eventually see those standards and will desire to come up to a new level.

I have a young couple in my life, fairly young in God, but they are striving to follow God with their whole heart. They have a different standard of a relationship when it comes to living together, then I do. I believe you should honor your girlfriend/boyfriend and not live with them until you are married. They are on the other end of the standard. If I try o hold them to or force my standard I would get very frustrated, and possibly lose our relationship. My wife and I, have had them to our house and I see them at least once a week, loving then where they are.

If they stop living together because of my imposed standard then who are they really following, me or God. If they were to know that God was asking them to raise their own standard up a level, they will be walking out there own standard and not just a rule set by another, being led only by God.

We will only keep a request or a rule if the enforcer is present, but we will always live by our personal standards, even when others are not looking. This is what the first son was doing walking out his own standard, he was not asked by for forced by another to work the vineyard. His standard was to honor his father, so after he left his father he wants and worked the vineyard.

Personal standards are formed and function for the heart not just in the head (mind). We function out of any standard because we feel it and are passionate about the situation.

APPLICATION

• We all have personal standards, what are yours?
• Does God want you to raise or change your standards?
• Be cautious not to impose your standard on other to the point of breaking a relationship, if you are not close to them they will not see a good standard.