Proverbs 4:23
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
The medical experts tell us that heart disease remains the number one killer in the US with over 900,000 dying annually of some form of this terrible disease. Yet still they say that many if not most Americans pay little attention to the health of their heart. What a tragic way to die in light of the fact that much of the heart disease that Americans die from can be prevented with changes in lifestyle and eating habits that keep our hearts healthy.
The Scriptural metaphor in this verse is uncannily accurate. A healthy heart keeps oxygen rich, life-giving blood flowing through the body. It nourishes every organ in the body and keeps it functioning properly. When this “flow of life” is interrupted it causes a number of health problems and can lead to death of the body. The spiritual heart is the seat of the Lord in the lives of believers. Out of our spiritual heart flows “the issues of life”. The energy and power to live the victorious Christian life are dependent on a healthy heart.
This idea of guarding one’s heart is so important that the writer of the Proverb uses two different words for “guard” in the first part of the verse. To keep our heart is to set a watch on it; to maintain or protect something entrusted to us. In modern terms it would be like what a person does with his well-used automobile. He must perform regular tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotations and other routine maintenance items so as to keep it running smoothly. The second word for “guard” translated “all diligence” is a noun referring to a guard like a military person guarding his post or a prison guard retaining custody of his ward. Both of these figures must hold a high degree of alertness at all times. Their jobs and sometimes their very lives depend on this alertness.
Throughout chapter 4 the writer gives us some very important admonitions to help us in guarding our heart. Again, the metaphor is clear. If we don’t “guard our heart and guard it well”, we will end up with a heart that functions at less than its intended capacity and our spiritual lives will suffer. Keep the life giving energy and power flowing. Protect your spiritual heart by diligently watching what comes into it. Guard your heart!!
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3 comments:
Good post and a very good analogy. Keep up the good work.
Nice to see you've got a blog! Thanks for the email about it. Your posts are insightful, relevant and clearly presented, as always. Looking forward to visiting regularly.
What an encouragement to have a blog where you are sharing spiritual insights and challenging others to walk uprightly and not just meander along in life. THANKS!
You have presented it clearly and simply, and yet it's very direct and to the point, I like it!
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