Proverbs 4:23 - “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

To “keep”is to guard, secure, protect. The “heart” is the seat of intellect and emotion: what you think and how you feel about what you think. As we put our valuables in a safe to prevent loss, or build a wall around our property to prevent intrusion, so we must protect what we think and how we feel. Why? The word “issues” here is as we might speak of what “issues forth.” What goes out of you in your life, what others see and hear from you, comes from your heart (as Jesus said in Matthew 15:11). What are you allowing to get into your mind by what you read, watch and hear? Are you protecting your heart “with all diligence”? You can be certain others know by what comes out of it. And God knows. If it’s still on the record when you meet Him, you’ll hear about it.

Proverbs 18:3 - "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

That person who interrupts to respond before you are finished speaking is not only rude; God says his action is foolish and shameful. You’re not that person, are you? Do you love your neighbor enough to really listen to him?

*Proverbs 20:1 - "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

There are many in the world who think that drinking alcoholic beverages is “normal” and “harmless.” Some even argue that alcoholic wine should be used in the Lord’s supper. This verse clearly shows that such people are deceived. Those who allow wine to deceive them are not wise, yet they believe that they are wiser than those who know the dangers of alcohol and warn against it. Don’t be deceived by wine, and don’t allow those who are deceived by it to deceive you.

Proverbs 21:2 - “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

There may be some, but I don’t recall ever having met a man who said, “My plans and methods are wrong, and I urge everyone to employ them.” Did you ever think, while rebuking someone, that he may not at all understand your rebuke? When an argument is raised it is between people who each think that they are right. You know, sometimes the guy who isn’t just might be me. Certainly it’s obvious that, when two opposing views stand, both can’t be right. Above all we know that God is right; it wouldn’t hurt to check His Guidebook to find the truth in the matter. We also know that “the Lord ponders the hearts.” He is aware that I am sincere, even though I am wrong in my opinion or practice. He is also aware of whether I am willing to listen to Him, and change when necessary, or stand stubbornly in my own way.

Proverbs 22:17-19 (NJKV) - “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.”

“The wise” is Solomon. The words he wrote were inspired of God. If it is a “pleasant thing” to keep those words within us, what do you suppose it is NOT to keep them in our minds? If having his words fixed upon the lips enables one to keep his trust in the Lord, what do you suppose happens when words from another source are common upon the lips instead? If it is distressing to preachers and elders (and it is) to observe Christians who pay little heed to the word and then wonder why “bad things always happen to” them, what is it to God when His children fail to read and respect His word? It was given for our benefit - instructions for successful living under the blessings of Almighty God. Have you ever read the whole Bible? Why not determine today to begin a specific plan to do so?

Proverbs 23:16 - “Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.”

What makes a father happy? Well, many things, probably, but one certainly must be that his children are wise, and their wisdom is evident in their speech. Solomon wrote to his son, and God preserved the words for all sons everywhere: “when your heart is wise then my heart shall rejoice” (15). The word “reins” is literally the kidneys, but generally internal organs, and figuratively refers to “the seat of emotion and affection” (Thayer). It was an emotional experience to Solomon that his son spoke right things. The implication is that God rejoices when His children speak right things. What is right is what God has revealed (Isaiah 30:8-11). When Christians use their God-given lips to speak what is consistent with God-revealed words, the Father is naturally pleased. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11). Do you suppose that he intended his admonition to apply only to our preaching? Does it not also apply to “whatsoever ye do in word” (Col. 3:17)? There are no part-time Christians. If one is a Christian, he is so not only in the assemblies of the church, but every moment of every day in every place. Does your speech sound like the oracles of God? Does your Father rejoice at the utterance of your lips?

Proverbs 23:23 - “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

Gather it to yourself. Pay for it; sacrifice to acquire it. Once you have it, keep it; don’t let it get away from you. Don’t exchange it for some other perceived gain, for whatever you might receive in exchange for truth will be a net loss to you. The same is equally true of wisdom (right judgment), instruction (specifically instruction with a view to correcting existing error in your life), and understanding (discernment of the right path to follow in life’s many options). The second part of this verse should be obvious, because all of the three last-named qualities are gained by the first. Without truth as the foundation for life, judgment cannot be trusted always to be right, error cannot be known or corrected, and understanding of application is a non sequitur (you cannot understand the application of what you do not know in the first place). The Proverbs were written for the reader “to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity” (1:2). To buy the truth, and sell it not is to hear, read, study and live by the Bible, as Jesus made clear in His prayer for His disciples: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). What have you give for the acquisition of truth?

Proverbs 23:26 - “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

The soul whose heart is given to the Lord (that is, one who is converted to Christ, committed to God) is admonished to pay attention to the ways of God. Indeed, he will do so without admonition. A pole vaulter was asked how he vaulted considerably higher than he ever had before. He answered that he wanted much to do so: “I threw my heart over the bar, and my body just followed.” Solomon had earlier laid down the principle: “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (verse 7). Jesus said “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). When the soul treasures Heaven with all its blessings of God, the heart will be inclined toward Heaven. If the heart is then given wholly to that goal, the mind’s eyes will see the reward and the path leading to it. When the reward at the end is kept in focus the path will remain clearer, and the journey will be more joyous less susceptible to interruption. Who has your heart?

*Proverbs 23:29-35 - "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine...”

These verses need little or no explanation. Their message is so plain as to be painful to many who try to justify the drinking of alcoholic beverages. In spite of the claims of many in society around us that a short drink to be sociable is the path to good human relationships, the Lord says that those who drink have woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints, and other ailments and problems of life as a direct result of their consumption of alcohol. The command of the Lord is clear: “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup...” Clearly He is telling us not to be tempted by it. Those who ignore the Lord’s warning are throwing away their only hope for salvation from sin. They are choosing to follow the lusts of the flesh which lead into Hell. The question is not whether we should drink or not. The question is whether we will listen to the Lord or not. Which do you love more: the Lord or the Bottle?

Proverbs 25:11 - “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

The image is of a sculpture: apples made of pure gold exquisitely set in a frame made of pure silver, the whole catching the sun and gleaming in glory. The message is: that’s how beautiful is the right word spoken in the right circumstance. Most people find it easy to condemn, find fault, and show themselves superior in observation and judgment. Anybody can do that without thinking - and that’s the way most speak so: without thinking. A child presents a scribble and asks, “Daddy, how do you like my horse?” You’ve seen one daddy answer, “That doesn’t look much like a horse, son; you can do better than that,” and perhaps you’ve seen another (but they’re too few) answer, “My, that’s a good looking horse - you’re going to be a great artist some day, aren’t you?” Which answer is like apples of gold in pictures of silver? Which is a word fitly spoken? And what is the result of each (Col. 3:21)? “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health” (12:18). It’s a tragedy to destroy hope, creativity and optimism in a child, but we don’t naturally think of children when reading Proverbs. Solomon’s words are to us in our relationship with one another. Paul used the metaphor of salt on our food (Col. 4:6) to teach us “how ye ought to answer every man.” When you speak, are you an encourager, or a destroyer? Is your tongue health to the hearer?

*Proverbs 29:1 - "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

The culture of pluralism in our age has had a strong effect on the work - and unfortunately on the attitude - of the church. The “live-and-let-live” philosophy, which a mere half-century ago characterized a few self-centered people, went through the I’m-OK-you’re-OK stage a quarter-century ago and has now reached into practically every nook and corner of society as a prohibition against reproof and correction. Preachers meet it every day. Parents of adolescents and teens meet it practically every hour. “Why should I?” has become the signature response to the plea to correct a non-productive conduct. “You can’t make me!” is the defiant retort of the stubborn will. “You’re not my judge!” is the belligerent defense of one whose wrong words and ways are addressed in an effort to encourage walking in the light of the Word of God. It is not uncommon to hear children say, “I’ll be glad when I’m an adult so I won’t have all these rules; adults can do anything they want.” Now a generation has come to adulthood still believing that, and living accordingly. “I’m the boss of me” was a popular declaration of children a few years ago. Now a national culture lives by that philosophy. But you are not - never were - and never will be the rule-maker for your life. If you break man’s law, you’ll answer to man’s courts. If you break God’s law, you’ll answer to God. No one is perfect. When someone tells you that your course is taking you to destruction, it is foolish to ignore the possibility that he might be right. When you’re on the wrong road, turn around.

*Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision the people perish.”

This verse is often referenced by those who would encourage us to think ahead, or to exercise wisdom in making our plans for the future. That is not the message in the verse. The next portion of the same verse makes that clear when it says, “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” The “vision” in the verse is not a clear understanding from experience, skill or wisdom. Obviously, it is a revelation from the Lord. Ezekiel said (7:26), “then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.” When people don’t hear the word of God and heed it’s admonitions, they are doomed to perish. It was proven true of the Ammonites, the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Sodomites and many others. They are gone because they did not heed the word of God. How many of today’s nations will suffer the same fate? And how soon? Let us preach the gospel more urgently than ever before.