The Nature of Human Affections
The Bible recognizes that human beings are creatures of deep emotion and desire. Our affections—those powerful feelings that draw us toward or away from something—are not merely peripheral to our spiritual lives but central to who we are as people made in God's image. Scripture acknowledges both the beauty and the danger of human affections, showing us that these deep emotions can either draw us closer to God or lead us into spiritual bondage.
The biblical writers understood that affections are not neutral. They shape our priorities, influence our decisions, and ultimately determine the direction of our lives. This is why Scripture places such emphasis on the proper ordering of our loves and desires, recognizing that what we truly love will inevitably become what we serve and obey.
Misdirected Affections as Spiritual Danger
One of the recurring themes throughout Scripture is the warning against allowing our affections to become attached to temporary, earthly things rather than eternal, heavenly realities. The Bible consistently teaches that when our deepest loves are directed toward the wrong objects—whether material possessions, human approval, or personal comfort—we set ourselves up for both disappointment and spiritual compromise.
This misdirection of affection is often portrayed in Scripture as a form of spiritual adultery or idolatry. When our hearts become captivated by anything other than God Himself, we inevitably find ourselves serving that thing rather than our Creator. The biblical writers understood that the human heart cannot remain neutral; it will always be devoted to something, and that devotion will shape the entire trajectory of our lives.
The Call to Rightly Ordered Love
Rather than calling us to eliminate emotions and desires, Scripture calls us to properly order our affections with God at the center. This involves a deliberate cultivation of love for God, His people, His Word, and His purposes in the world. The goal is not emotional numbness but emotional health—hearts that beat strongest for the things that matter most to God.
This transformation of our affections is not something we can accomplish through willpower alone. It requires the ongoing work of God's Spirit in our lives, combined with spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture reading, and fellowship with other believers. As we consistently expose ourselves to God's truth and presence, our hearts are gradually reshaped to love what He loves and desire what brings Him glory.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.