(Psa 119:32) I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
A man was once told by a doctor that his heart was enlarged due to his hard physical labors as a child and that this enlarged heart could cause him problems in adulthood. An enlarged heart is one then that is larger than originally made.
A large heart has greater capacity to love God and man; it is one that carries a burden for others, genuinely caring for others and their difficult situations they are in. One who has a large heart limits their own self in order to benefit others; one who gives sacrificially. As David says in the text verse, a large heart enables us to perform the commands of God in greater ways – and this would include aiding others. God’s highest calling is for His children to be channels of love to a lost world.
God gives us a large heart if we will allow Him to just as He did to Solomon – “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” Solomon was greatly blessed by God and he showed it by his generosity. Solomon did not become tyrannical until he departed from God by marrying foreign women. After he departed from God he placed heavy burdens upon his people which was a cause of rebellion after his death.
Job had a large heart and he helped people financially as well as other ways – “I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. . . . and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. . . I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. {16} I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. {17} And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.” Job did not just sit back and enjoy his wealth and prosperity, but he distributed it and also helped when people were taken advantage of by others.
Paul had a large heart for his own people (the Jews) as well as the Gentiles. He suffered much in order to take the gospel message to many people – “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged . . . be ye also enlarged.” He told those he preached to that “he would gladly spend and be spent for (them).” Paul cared deeply about others.
A lean heart is a self-centered heart, one that is narrow in feeling toward others. This type person thinks of their own situation above all others. If we focus on our own problems all the time and think that others do not care or we have it so much harder than others, we will develop a lean heart and become very self-centered. The Scripture warns us to keep our heart with all diligence because out of it are the issues of life. We can develop a lean heart when we get offended by another and we seclude our life form contact with that one or others. Some people have developed a learn heart to the point where they almost become hermits. They feel no one has it as bad as they do and so they cut many people off in their spirits and live life in their own four walls and family – us four and no more. So often we do this as a measure to protect our self from further hurt or injury. We once had a large heart and were open and generous but people took advantage of us and abused our generosity, so we developed a lean heart of self-survival. There was a man once who complained that he had no shoes until he saw a man with no feet. Some people have it much more difficult than others, I know that, but that does not give us the right to be a lean-hearted person.
How can we develop a large heart? David said that God would enlarge his heart, but he first had to be willing and according to the theme of Psalms 119, this is in regard to God’s word. We must be acquainted with and involved in God’s word. It is not something that occurs overnight, but as we surrender to God and read and study His word, His spirit will take the word and engraft it into our very being. We love because God first loved us and we can love others because God sheds His love abroad in our hearts. God gave Solomon an enlarged heart and He will do the same for any of His children that seek Him for the same.