Proverbs 4:20-27 (NIV) 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 (MSG) Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health. Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust. We guard what we deem is valuable to us.
Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
2 Questions I want us to look at today. Why should we guard our heart? How can we guard our heart?
Why should we guard our heart?
Vs 23 For everything you do flows from it.
Mark 7:20-23 (NLT) 20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
Apart from God, we all have a heart problem! 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Carnal Temptations, Emotional Trauma, Spiritual Doubts, Marital Conflict, Criticism from others, Workplace Disappointment, Physical Pain John 16:33 (NIV) - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
How can we guard our heart?
3 Principles for Guarding Our Heart Proverbs 4:24 (NLT) 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.
1. Guard Your Tongue James 1:26 (NLT) If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Luke 6:45 (NLT) 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
2. Guard Your Eyes Proverbs 4:25 (NLT) 25 Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Too many times we are looking at the wrong things. We look at our circumstances, we focus on the problems and issues in our life instead of focusing on Him.
Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) 22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
3. Guard Your Conduct Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT) 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. 27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
Christians are often plagued with inconsistency.
We have prioritized satisfying the outside at the expense of the inside.
We’re ok with harming our soul at the expense of making us happy.
God wants to make you Holy more than he wants to make you happy!
Matthew 16:26 (NLT) 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Colossians 3:17 (NIV) 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
