--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we have no desire to be discerning, we…" description: "\"“If we have no desire to be discerning, we won't be discerning. If we are driven by a yearning to be happy, healthy, affluent, prosperous, comfortable,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/john-macarthur-1117_discernment_if-we-have-no-desire-to-be-discerning-we_2098499.jpg" --- # If we have no desire to be discerning, we won't be… ![“If we have no desire to be discerning, we won't be discerning. If we are driven by a yearning to be happy, healthy, affluent, prosperous, comfortable, and self-satisfied, we will never be discerning people. If our feelings determine what we believe, we cannot be discerning. If we subjugate our…” quote by John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/john-macarthur-1117_discernment_if-we-have-no-desire-to-be-discerning-we_2098499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/john-macarthur-1117_discernment_if-we-have-no-desire-to-be-discerning-we_2098499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/john-macarthur-1117_discernment_if-we-have-no-desire-to-be-discerning-we_2098499.jpg) > ““If we have no desire to be discerning, we won't be discerning. If we are driven by a yearning to be happy, healthy, affluent, prosperous, comfortable, and self-satisfied, we will never be discerning people. If our feelings determine what we believe, we cannot be discerning. If we subjugate our minds to some earthly ecclesiastical authority and blindly believe what we are told, we undermine discernment. Unless we are willing to examine all things carefully, we cannot hope to have any defense against reckless faith.”” [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discernment requires active, rational examination, not blind acceptance of feelings or authority. **In simple terms:** Think critically, don’t just follow feelings or authority. Key Takeaway Question everything before believing. Themes discernment critical thinking faith authority belief Mood thoughtful serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision making - theological study - ethical judgments - public discourse Key Concepts rational analysis spiritual maturity skepticism Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have you examined critically? - How do you balance faith with reason? A Different Perspective Blind faith can be comforting but limits growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discernment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discernment/) ## Related quotes > [I am so tired of criticalness being called discernment. Do you want to know true discernment? Paul said "That your love may abound in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/i-am-so-tired-of-criticalness-being-called-discernment-do-you-want-to/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“You will be taken through training, tests and practice of being about to tell the difference between what's counterfeit over what is real. During…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-pierre/you-will-be-taken-through-training-tests-and-practice-of-being-about/) [Yvonne Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-pierre/) > [There seems to be no part of knowledge in fewer hands than that of discerning when to have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/there-seems-to-be-no-part-of-knowledge-in-fewer-hands-than-that-of/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“I must never equate the degree of pain as evidencing the incorrectness of a decision, for if I do I will default on some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-must-never-equate-the-degree-of-pain-as-evidencing-the/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“According to ayurveda, we become what we surround ourselves with. 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It remains an inspiration for those willing to be progressive according to God’s will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-has-a-creative-spirit-it-remains-an-inspiration-for-those/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“The Word of God reveals the secrets of the past and prepares God’s people for the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-of-god-reveals-the-secrets-of-the-past-and-prepares-god-s/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“Where the Word of God is applied effectively, effective results are seen consistently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/where-the-word-of-god-is-applied-effectively-effective-results-are/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“I love to read books. I love to read anything really, even the back of the cereal box. But there is nothing that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-wojnarowski/i-love-to-read-books-i-love-to-read-anything-really-even-the-back-of/) Rachel Wojnarowski > [“A Bible not read is like a bulb not lighted. Only insane people will love to work in the darkness with Kings' bulbs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-bible-not-read-is-like-a-bulb-not-lighted-only-insane-people-will/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The Word of God is good for the needy and the oppressed. It is also good for the affluent and the liberated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-of-god-is-good-for-the-needy-and-the-oppressed-it-is-also/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“The Word of God creates room for people to realize that indeed, God is good!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-of-god-creates-room-for-people-to-realize-that-indeed-god-is/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“The truth of God's Word cannot be subject to the puny light of man's self-centred reason”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-goldsworthy/the-truth-of-god-s-word-cannot-be-subject-to-the-puny-light-of-man-s/) [Graeme Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-goldsworthy/) > [“The Word of God is never intended for what people want, but for what they need in their day-to-day lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/the-word-of-god-is-never-intended-for-what-people-want-but-for-what/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“I do not worship a DEAD and buried Christ at Calvary. I worship a ressurected and LIVING Christ in Heaven! Jesus Christ is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-do-not-worship-a-dead-and-buried-christ-at-calvary-i-worship-a/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by John MacArthur > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [There are things that God hates, right? One of them is the one who stirs up strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/there-are-things-that-god-hates-right-one-of-them-is-the-one-who/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Over the years, I've fought a number of polemical battles against ideas that threaten the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/over-the-years-i-ve-fought-a-number-of-polemical-battles-against/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“You and I believed the gospel, not because we were wiser or more righteous than anyone else but because God graciously intervened, opening our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/you-and-i-believed-the-gospel-not-because-we-were-wiser-or-more/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“He call us to obey, not because He needs us but because He knows we need Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/he-call-us-to-obey-not-because-he-needs-us-but-because-he-knows-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“The Spirit works in the church so that men might see Jesus as Lord, recognizing His authority and submitting to His will (1 Cor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-spirit-works-in-the-church-so-that-men-might-see-jesus-as-lord/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Grace does not grant permission to live in the flesh; it supplies power to live in the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/grace-does-not-grant-permission-to-live-in-the-flesh-it-supplies/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Sexual expression within a marriage is not an option or an extra. 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How long must I struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/psalm-13-o-lord-how-long-will-you-forget-me-forever-how-long-will-you/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Scripture repeatedly makes clear that heaven is a realm of unsurpassed joy, unfading glory, undiminished bliss, unlimited delights, and unending pleasures. Nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/scripture-repeatedly-makes-clear-that-heaven-is-a-realm-of/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [God's true church has always been a place where people hunger for the truth from the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/god-s-true-church-has-always-been-a-place-where-people-hunger-for-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [The lies of systemic racism and the race hustlers dominate the ideologies of universities and even churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-lies-of-systemic-racism-and-the-race-hustlers-dominate-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Explore all 279 John MacArthur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## More Discerning quotes > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. 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Bush for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/political-journalists-love-graduate-student-intelligence-the-ability/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [When we have an inner initiation into pure love, we are in contact with our true nature. Judgment of ourselves and others disappears. Compassionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/when-we-have-an-inner-initiation-into-pure-love-we-are-in-contact/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/he-who-knows-other-men-is-discerning-he-who-knows-himself-is/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [My first job with a network was 'General Hospital,' and that was ABC. I feel like I have so much history with them, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-ray-newman/my-first-job-with-a-network-was-general-hospital-and-that-was-abc-i/) [Jaime Ray Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-ray-newman/) > [If I were to offer any advice to young writers, it would be this: be discriminating and be discerning about the work you set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-l-pez/if-i-were-to-offer-any-advice-to-young-writers-it-would-be-this-be/) [Barry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-l-pez/) > [A discerning man, when he eats grapes, takes only the ripe ones and leaves the sour. Thus also the discerning mind carefully marks the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/a-discerning-man-when-he-eats-grapes-takes-only-the-ripe-ones-and/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > ['The Observer's Very Short List' is another example of how the Observer Media Group offers its readers the most cutting-edge information, available in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-kushner/the-observer-s-very-short-list-is-another-example-of-how-the-observer/) [Jared Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-kushner/) > [“Not every good idea is God's perfect will for you; it may need discerning, wisdom and experience to tell the difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-lucas-d-shallua/not-every-good-idea-is-god-s-perfect-will-for-you-it-may-need/) [Dr. Lucas D. Shallua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-lucas-d-shallua/) > [We are all responsible to Jesus first, and then, under him, to various other persons and offices. Discerning the path of love and obedience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-are-all-responsible-to-jesus-first-and-then-under-him-to-various/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The world of counterterrorism is like that old jigsaw puzzle in the back of the closet: Its many missing pieces and extra parts jumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-l-haney/the-world-of-counterterrorism-is-like-that-old-jigsaw-puzzle-in-the/) [Eric L. Haney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-l-haney/) Browse all 140 Discerning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If we have no desire to be discerning, we won't be discerning. If we are driven by a yearning to be happy, healthy, affluent, prosperous, comfortable, and self-satisfied, we will never be discerning people. If our feelings determine what we believe, we cannot be discerning. If we subjugate our minds to some earthly ecclesiastical authority and blindly believe what we are told, we undermine discernment. 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