Guard Your Heart Series

• Proverbs 4:5-7 (NIV)

[5] Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. [6] Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. [7] Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

• Proverbs 4:6 (MsgB)

Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you.

Wisdom is supreme; it is number one! Above all else in life Solomon instructs his son to pursue wisdom. Without wisdom we are a fool.

What is wisdom? Remember we have said wisdom is much more than just a collection of intellectual head knowledge and facts. Wisdom begins with the proper use or application of knowledge; wisdom is doing or saying the right thing at the right time, in the right place for the right reason. Therefore, the wise are known, not by what they know, but by how they live from day to day.

• 1 Corinthians 1:24 (NLT)

To those called by God to salvation . . . Christ is . . . the wonderful wisdom of God.

Wisdom is the mind of God, revealed and make know in our lives through Jesus. How do we know what the right thing to say or do is? How can we live a life of wisdom? JESUS TELLS US HOW TO LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY!

How does Jesus make wisdom known to us? He does so through His Word and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit to our minds. Jesus will speak to us through the Bible and in our thoughts; we just need to be listening!

ILLUSTRATION: Someone shared with me this week about a very difficult situation they are going through. They were looking for answers and help but finding little reassurance that things were going to turn out the way they wanted them to. As they were driving they stopped at a red light not knowing what to do next. The Lord spoke to them in that moment saying “Go home and trust me.” And that’s what they did. Some might think they should go here or there and see this person or that person. God said the wise thing to do is to just go home and trust Him.

Over the last several weeks we have looked at the book of Proverbs in a series “Wisdom for Right Living.” So far we have looked at eight keys to gaining wisdom for our daily lives.

Key #1: Start with God; Fear the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)

Key #2: Learn wisdom from those who fear the Lord. (Proverbs 1:8-19)

Key #3: Answer wisdom’s call; wisdom is found in our daily choices. (Proverbs 1:20-21)

Key #4: Remember the Law of the Harvest; consequences follow your actions. (Proverbs 1:22-33)

Key #5: Let authentic love lead you everyday; make love your guide and your motive. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

Key #6: Depend fully upon God alone; in everything rely upon God with absolute confidence and hope. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Key # 7: Wealth and possessions are not ours to own; everything belongs to God and is ours on loan. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

Key #8: The path to wisdom is not always easy; it sometimes goes through the hard places of discipline. Discipline leads to wisdom through instruction in righteousness. (Proverbs 3:11-18)

• Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV) STAND TOGETHER

[23]Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. [24] Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. [25] Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. [26] Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. [27] Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Key #9: Safeguard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23-27)

Solomon begins this fatherly discourse with his son by reminding him wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom, even if it cost you everything you have. Don’t forsake wisdom because wisdom will protect you and keep you safe. As Proverbs 4 closes Solomon show the way to have wisdom for daily living; “GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE.”

• Proverbs 4:23 (MsgB)

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.

What does Solomon mean by “your heart?” When the Bible talks about your heart what does it mean? How many of you know we are not talking about the organ the size of your fist, located in your chest pumping blood throughout your body? It is important to take good physical care of your heart; life will come to an end if it stops beating. However, when the Bible talks about the heart it means something else all together.

Biblically the heart is your center—the heart speaks about who you really are as a person. The heart is “the wellspring of life” (NIV). From out of the heart flows “the issues of life” (KJV), the heart “affects everything you do” (NLT).