Today's Scripture:
Proverbs 4:10-27

Key Verse:
Proverbs 4:23

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

The Point:

A Thriving Heart Must be Kept Not Followed!

Who is more intelligent; who knows human nature better? God or Steve Jobs? Now at first thought, everyone reading this will think, "what a silly question!" Really, check this out:

Steve Jobs quote: "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

God's Word for Today: "Keep they heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Steve Jobs delivered his "follow your heart and intuition" statement at a commencement address given to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005.

God delivered His word to Solomon, "keep they heart with all diligence," about 970 BC.

Here is the real question, which statement about the heart are you more inclined to believe and put into practice?

Some may say, wait a minute, Steve Jobs and God are talking about two different things. Steve Jobs is talking about occupations. God is talking about life in general. True, God is talking about the full scope of life, but wouldn't that include occupations? God's statement is much broader in scope than Steve Job's statement, but that doesn't make Steve Job's statement better or more accurate than God's! In fact, from a Biblical world view perspective, Steve Jobs is wrong.

So, why do most people, even Christians, place such an emphasis on "following the heart?" Is that a bad idea? If you really want to know the answer to that question, consider these questions honestly:

• Are you attracted to things (does your heart desire things) that aren't good for you?
• Are your emotions and passions reliable enough to form the basis for making life altering or even routine decisions?
• Are you more inclined to do the things you want to do instead of what God wants you to do?
• Do you think it is better to feel right or to do right, even when it hurts?
• Which is a better source for understanding what's right, your thoughts, emotions, and passions or the Word of God?

What do you think, should the heart be "followed" or "kept?"

What is the correct source for knowing truth, your heart or God's Word?

Do you want to become what your heart wants you to be or what God calls you to be?

Today's Scripture (Proverbs 4:10-27) was written by Solomon because he wanted his son to have a long and blessed life. Study the passage for a few minutes and complete the items below:

1. Wisdom vs foolishness is the primary theme of the entire book of Proverbs. Look carefully at Proverbs 4:10-11, you will note the verbs in verse 11 are past tense. Why is Solomon pleading for his son to "receive my sayings?"
2. Consider Proverbs 4:12-13, what are the benefits of being in the "way of wisdom?"
3. Bottom line: what is the best, but frequently unpopular, response to the heart's desire to "enter the path of the wicked," and "go in the way of evil men." (See Proverbs 4:14-15)
4. What makes the "path of the just" like a shining light? (See Proverbs 4:18)
5. Note the emphasis Solomon places on his son listening to his counsel in Proverbs 4:20-22. Why is Solomon repeatedly charging his son to hear, receive, attend, and incline to his sayings? (Compare Proverbs 4:10 and 20)
6. Now for the key verse today, Proverbs 4:23: What does "keep thy heart with all diligence" mean?