What is more important?

I was recently listening to the podcaster Dennis Prager talk about what is more important, what you do or what you think?  His claim was that what you do is clearly more important than what you think. Now even though he is Jewish, he was trying to make this point so that the Christians in his audience would agree with him. He referred to Matthew 21:28-32, where a dad wants his two sons to go work in his vineyard. One says, he will do it, and then doesn’t, while the other says, he won’t do it, and then changes his mind and does the work. His point in telling this story and what he believes is the point of the parable is that the doing is more important than thinking about it. 

But I think it actually revealed a different point. It's not that the thinking was unimportant, but that what they do reveals what they really thought or what was in their hearts. The one says he's going to serve his father and get the job done, but he doesn't. Revealing that he doesn't actually care about obeying his father, just appearing to obey. The other son has a change of mind (repentance), and does the good that he should have done in the first place. It's not that your actions and your thoughts are different. It's that your actions show what your thoughts really are, no matter what you say. 

Therefore, when Jesus in Matthew 5, talks about anger and lust being akin to murder and adultery. It's not that he's saying the thoughts/emotions are exactly the same as the actions, but they are sinful and that sinful thoughts are the precursors to sinful actions. The place to address sin first then is not when it's already gotten to the level of sticking a knife in someone. Rather, we need to “take every thought captive to obey Christ,” as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5. 

Therefore, I want to encourage you to think about your thinking. You are not just a victim to your thoughts. With God’s help you can consider your thoughts and feelings and bring them to him. One of my favorite verses in this regard is Psalm 139:23–24

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! (ESV)

God wants us to change from the inside out. To renew our minds as Romans 12:2 says. Romans 12:1 says that we do this by understanding the good news of the gospel that we are loved and then offering all of ourselves, our bodies and minds to Him, so that we can know what the good things that He desires us to do. As we offer ourselves to Him daily, we become more and more like Jesus, learning to think and act in ways that show love to God and our neighbors. Go to Jesus today and everyday to renew your mind and your actions will reflect the changes He is making in you.