How Canst Thou Say, I Love Thee

Judges 16:15

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

Delilah is often looked down on throughout history, and rightfully so; however, she asked Samson a question that every believer should ponder. She asked him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Samson had not told her where his strength came from, and she knew that until he told her this secret that she did not completely have his heart.

I believe this question ought to be pondered by every believer towards Christ. It was Jesus who asked to Peter, Lovest thou me more than these? It was not that Peter did not love Christ, but it was that Peter had yet to give his heart to Christ. Oh, don't get this wrong. Peter was a saved man, but he had yet to give his heart to his Lord. Jesus wanted Peter’s heart. Jesus knew that once He had Peter’s heart that he would do mighty things for God. Jesus knew that if he had Peter’s heart that he would never go back to the world or his old business because his heart was invested in God.

What does it mean when asked, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Matthew 6:21 answers this question when Jesus declares, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Whatever you treasure the most will have your heart. All Jesus wants is your heart because He knows when He has your heart He will have all of you. Let me share a few thoughts about this all-important principle of giving your heart to God.

First, God will never have your heart until you give Him your heart in prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Why does God want all of your care? He wants it because it will cause you to give your heart to Him. Whoever you are willing to pour all of your heart out to is who has your heart. Samson was unwilling to tell Delilah the secrets of his heart, which is why she said his heart was not with her. Though God knows all about you, He wants you to tell Him all the secrets of your heart. Let Him know everything in prayer, for this is part of giving your heart to God.

Second, God will never have your heart until you give your finances to Him. The treasure of Matthew 6:21 is your finances. If God does not have your money, He does not have your heart. This does not mean you have to give everything to God, but it means you are willing to give everything to Him. If God asks you to give a certain amount of money to the church but are unwilling to do it, you cannot say that you love God when your heart is not with Him.

Third, God will never have your heart until He has your life. God begs the believer in Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. God wants you to sacrifice your dreams and life for His cause. Your heart will never be given to God until you are willing to do whatever He wants you to do or go wherever He wants to send you. God will never have your heart until you are willing to serve Him and make serving Him the ultimate focus of your life. This is why Jesus said to Peter that if he loved Him, he would feed His sheep. My friend, God commands in Proverbs 23:26, My son, give me thine heart…. Have you given it to Him?