A tender heart quickly and readily yields when offered correction; however, as a heart becomes hardened, the times of yielding become fewer and farther apart. During the hardening process, the individual finds the true nature of the heart more difficult to grasp. As the heart further hardens, the individual finds himself involved in further defiance. The mischief may start as seemingly insignificant, but a hardening heart will ultimately lead to greater depths of wickedness, some seemingly unimaginable only a short time ago. Some of the worst sins committed in the Bible by God's people were committed by those who shortly before had displayed a tender heart. Yet, they allowed their hearts to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Dependability seems to be a diminishing virtue in each succeeding generation. Sealing a deal with a handshake and the saying “my word is my bond” are no longer dependable means of transacting business. Unfortunately, even God’s people are less dependable today than previous generations. The Bible describes the painful experience of dealing with unfaithful people by likening them to a broken tooth or a foot out of joint. A broken tooth exposes raw nerves and makes eating nigh impossible. A foot out of joint makes movement hopeless without assistance. The Bible warns not to place confidence in a broken tooth, a foot out of joint, or an unfaithful man. Believers should stand apart from the world in this regard by becoming more like God.
