“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Solomon is calling for his son to be focused. If his son was to have a life that was successful, joyful, and purposeful, he needed to “keep his heart…” If you look at just this single verse it can be easily dissected. Take the first word “Keep.” You could simply say “guard or hold captive.” In olden times when people were arrested they would be taken to the keep. “Heart” isn’t a reference to the muscle in your chest, it means first your mind, then along with the mind, your emotions and will. “Diligence” means you’re constantly aware of what is happening. You are looking for the attacks that will come against you in many and varied forms. “Issues of life?” Think of many springs that come together to form a creek, which comes together to form a mighty river. Little streams become bigger and mightier as they merge. I did a little research several years ago about the Jordan River. The Jordan River begins way up in the northern part of Israel. One of the streams that flow to become the Jordan is a small stream not more than 30’ wide during the rainy season in Caesarea Philippi. If you are making poor, unwise decisions, troubles can be compounded, but if you are guarding your heart making good, wise decisions then those issues or streams become a source of strength and beauty.
As he addresses his son, his words are not confined to just verse 23. The whole section, from verse 20 through verse 27, are his instructions for us today. Notice the body parts Solomon references in the passage. Here is the list: ear, eyes, heart, mouth, eyes, feet, and hand. Do you think that Solomon wanted his son to be aware, to pay attention, as he lived his life? Everything he tells him in these eight verses is opposite of what the world tells us. The world’s wisdom tells us to be happy and live a selfish life. Everything should be about us and our desires. Step on those below us and pull down those above us because we’ve got to be number one. We covet dream houses, to be popular in high society, sport our trophy wives, and cruise around in our “streak of lighting cars” to borrow a line from that great theologian Johnny Cash. But is this truly where joy and happiness come from? Hardly. Solomon had lived and tried everything available to a man during his life. Still, he was miserable. All his trinkets ultimately meant nothing because he didn’t have the inside right. He was still thirsty for satisfaction. Giving a man more of the same empty stuff only makes him more miserable. Imagine a man needing water because he is parched, and he’s given a glass of sand. It only makes him want water more. Jesus said in John 7:37-38, “…If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” As I bring this blog to a close let’s have this passage be a call to focus. Let’s be aware of the enemies we face. The world, the flesh, and the devil are all real enemies.
What do you see in the mirror each day? You see yourself. Hair, skin, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth. Some parts of your body you can see without a mirror. The parts Solomon listed in his instruction can be a great visual for us. Stand in front of a mirror. Turn side to side. Say to yourself something like this. “Ears, incline, listen to the words of the Lord today. Eyes, let me see things that are godly and turn away from evil. Heart, I’ll be guarding you today because you are most important. Lips, please be careful what you say today because they reveal my inside. Feet, be careful where you take me today and wherever you take me I want you to be beautiful because I am preaching the gospel. Hand, stay straight. Don’t let me swerve left or right.” Starting our day like this will help us live the abundant Christian life. One that overflows with great joy and purpose.