Thursday, July 1, 2010

Proverbs 3-4: The Wellspring of Life

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.  - Proverbs 4:23 NIV

The passages between these two verses talk about how we are to live. Honor the Lord with your wealth. Don't despise the Lord's discipline. Find wisdom. Preserve sound judgement and discernment. Don't fear disaster for God is your confidence. Don't withhold good. Don't plot harm or accuse anyone. Don't envy the violent. Hold on to instruction. Avoid the path of evil.  But these are just the outward manifestations.  In the end, Solomon knew that all of these commands come down to a matter of the heart. 

Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;  - Prov.4:25-27

Keep you gaze on the Lord.  That is how you guard your heart.  Keep your eyes on him and he will keep your paths straight, he will keep you on firm ground, he will keep you from going to the right or the left.  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

No comments:

Post a Comment