A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:35
Beside the pathway that ran up the side of the mountain was a little spring of water. It gurgled up out of an opening between two rocks, trickled down over the rocks into a rocky pool, and then ran down a little gully toward the foot of the mountain. On a nearby tree hung a small dipper, because the cold water that flowed from the spring was sweet and good, and we always enjoyed a drink there. Beside the path on the other side of the mountain was another spring of water. Like the first spring, it gurgled up out of an opening between two rocks, trickled down over the rocks into a rocky pool, and then ran down a little gully toward the foot of the mountain. But there was no dipper nearby. Nobody stopped to drink from that spring, because it had a bitter mineral taste that was disgusting. The last time I checked, water was still flowing from both springs. And the water from one is sweet and from the other is still bitter. They are like the hearts of those of whom our Lord speaks in today’s text.
We all know people who we avoid because their conversation consists of nothing more than complaints about their ailments. We avoid others because they talk of little else but immorality and smut. Yet others we shun because they speak of themselves and their grand ideas for making fortunes that never seem to appear. There is nothing in their hearts that we find pleasant. On the other hand, some people bring a smile to our lips as we see them approach, the man who always has some good-natured banter and joke, the lady who always has a new story about the beautiful birds that appear in her garden, the teenager who is always delighted to see us and has a nice compliment to pass on. These folks have warm and cheery hearts that we enjoy hearing from. But especially do we appreciate the hearts of the Lord’s people. From the good things in their hearts, they bring forth treasures that refresh us like a drink from a sweet spring. Perhaps it’s a chorus from a lovely song, or a verse of Scripture they are enjoying, or a comment about the good word given in ministry or Gospel meeting, or good news about God’s working in salvation. There is refreshment in an encounter with a Christian who is enjoying the Lord and is appreciating His Word and His people. Good things flow out of their heart, as the Lord intends.
What good things have you brought forth from your heart today? And who have you refreshed by doing so? -Jim MacIntosh