2 Kings 22:19
Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
When we talk about assets, there would be many arguments about what the most valuable asset one could have. Some would say to invest in the stock market through mutual funds or a 401K is the most valuable asset. Some would say to invest in gold, while others will tell you that real estate is the best investment one can have. However, though each of these are certainly great assets, these are not the greatest assets one can have.
Josiah discovered the most valuable asset one can have, and that asset is a tender heart. The tender heart kept Josiah from making many hurtful decisions that would not only have hurt others around him, but they would have hurt his own future. His heart was so tender that he did whatever God told him to do.
Oh, the value of a tender heart cannot be overemphasized. When studying the Scriptures, you find those with a hardened heart could not even be influenced by God. In other words, God Himself could not get through to those with a hardened heart. However, when you look at those with a tender heart, you see God keeping them from doing things that would have hurt them, and you see God using them in a mighty way. There are three things very evident about a person who has a tender heart.
First, a person with a tender heart is willing to listen. You cannot help people who won't listen. It doesn't matter why they won't listen; it is the fact that they won't listen that keeps them from being helped. It is critical to have a listening ear to those who want to help. You ought to have a listening ear to your parents, your pastor, and those who are trying to help you. One of the most frustrating things as a pastor is that you want to help people, but they won’t listen. I can only imagine what God feels like in Heaven trying to help His children, but they won't listen to those He sends their way to help. Developing a listening ear is critical to your future. You need to hang onto everything that is taught by the pastor that God has placed in your life. Whether that spiritual leader is a parent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, or a seasoned believer that God has placed in your life, be willing to listen to them so they can help you.
Second, a person with a tender heart is willing to learn. A learning heart is a growing heart. When you reach the point that nobody can teach you, you have reached the point that God cannot teach you. Having a heart that is willing to learn only happens if you have a heart that is willing to listen. A learning heart is a listening heart that listens and adheres to the pastor that God has placed in your life.
Third, a person with a tender heart is willing to do what it was told to do. This is the key to a tender heart. You can listen and learn, but if you will not do, it won’t matter how much you heard or learned. My friend, a tender heart does not sit and criticize, but it listens, learns, and puts into action the truths it learned. The most valuable asset you can have is a tender heart that is willing to listen, learn, and do what it has learned. Keep your heart tender, and you will save yourself from much heartache.
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