Watch over Your Heart!

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          One of the members of my congregation asked me this question via instant message: “What does Proverbs 4:23 [“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life”] mean, anyway?” Since I could not properly answer with another instant message, I decided to take this route.

          First off, it has nothing to do with HDL, or LDL, or total cholesterol, nor does it have to do with avoiding butter, pork fat, beef fat, and sitting too much; in fact, it doesn’t even have anything to do with genetics. I suppose one could include these in his interpretation, but it would be somewhat of a stretch.

          Although the term “heart” is used quite frequently in the Scriptures, defining it is rather difficult. I, therefore, do not mean to imply that the following attempt is anywhere near perfect, but for the sake of this discussion, I will offer the following: the heart is the central, vital core, the essence of one’s being. 

          Having offered that definition, allow me to say that understanding this verse requires seeing it within the context of vss. 20-22: “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body.”

          Within this light and context, it become obvious that we must have something within our hearts that is worth our oversight, and that “something” can only be the words of wisdom and life that Solomon is providing in this book he has authored. We can assume, then, that Solomon is encouraging his reader to spend the time necessary to give attention to his words, to the words of wisdom that he offers. Once we have given them our attention, we must not allow them out of our sight, seeing to it that they remain in the citadel of our being, our hearts. In other words, we must be very careful not to allow another to rob us of the wisdom of Solomon’s words, to dilute their significance for our lives.

          Why? His words are life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body. Remember: Out of our hearts flow the springs of life and we, certainly, do not want these springs to become polluted with religious sewerage.

This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).