Sermon "Drinking From The Wellspring Of Life”

Sermon “Drinking From the Wellspring of Life”

Scripture Lesson: Proverbs 4:20-23 “My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

Introduction: Drinking from the wellspring of life sounds so magical, but the writer of Proverbs makes the idea practical. "Wellspring of life" refers to the heart, not the blood pump, but the center source of a person's actions, thoughts, and emotions. Everything flows from the inner self. It is a metaphor for an inexhaustible source from which vitality, purpose, and actions spring forth, particularly in a spiritual context where the heart is seen as the core of one's being that must be guarded.

Proverbs 4:20-23 is a passage that teaches how to live a wise and prosperous life by focusing on God's word and protecting one's heart. The verses instruct the reader to "attend to my words" and "incline your ear," meaning to give them full attention, internalize them and live by them. These actions lead to real wisdom. The kind of wisdom that gives "life to those who find it" and brings "healing to all his flesh". The central message is to "guard your heart with all vigilance" because it is the source of life.

Since we are faced with barrage of information, some accurate and some inaccurate, some beneficial and some dangerous, all competing for a place in the heart, your heart needs to be guarded. Then every heart must be protected for pride and a haughty spirit which are always present. Those seeking to drink from the wellspring of life must strive to walk in humility. Proverbs consistently links humility with wisdom and honor, while contrasting it with pride, which leads to disgrace. Humility comes before honor, yet those with a humble spirit will gain honor. Humility is associated with the fear of the Lord, which leads to the path of riches, honor, and life.

Proverbs 11:2 reads: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." This verse presents a direct trade-off: humility leads to wisdom, while pride leads to disgrace.

Proverbs 18:12: "Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but before honor comes humility."

Proverbs 22:4: "Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life."

Proverbs 29:23: "Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor." For all the things we must guard our hearts against, pride seems to be ever present and the most dangerous. This reinforces the idea that humility is both a root and a fruit of wisdom, while self-exaltation leads to being brought low.

There are biblical examples of persons who failed to guard their heart whose lives were ruined by envy, jealousy, and pride. Remember Cain, who knew God’s word and will, yet he murdered his brother Abel out of envy for God's favor. Think about King Saul who knew God’s word and will, yet he envied David's success and attempted to kill him. Think about Jacob, who was tricked into marrying Leah. Leah’s marriage was less than ideal, yet God blessed her with children that became a source of jealousy for her sister Rachel. King Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon and Lucifer, the fallen arch angel are classic examples of pride leading to a downfall. On several occasion, Jesus cautioned his disciples about having a servant’s heart, instead of seeking positions of authority. Matthew 20:28, Jesus describes himself as a servant, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The disciples argued about who would be considered the greatest, but Jesus redefined greatness in the Kingdom as the person who served the most. The proverb teaches that if one would drink from the wellspring of life they must give full attention to these instructions.

1. Give full attention to the Word of God. The passage begins with an instruction to give complete attention to the words of wisdom. This means more than just hearing; it requires active listening and making them a central focus of your thoughts. James 1:22, reaffirms this truth when t states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Then Apostle Paul in 2Timothy 3:7, says some are "ever learning but never coming to the truth." Paul describes people who are constantly seeking information and new teachings but lack the ability to understand or internalize the truth. This can be because they don't apply what they learn, or they are influenced by other factors, such as their own desires or false teachers, preventing them from grasping the truth. Those desiring to drink from the wellspring of life must Give full attention to the Word by being hearer and doers of the word.