Proverbs 4
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Proverbs 4:1-2:
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. |
a. Hear, my children: Previously in Proverbs, Solomon spoke as a father to his son, perhaps with the principal heir in mind. Now the instruction is broadened to his children in general. This is the instruction of a father for the benefit of the children.
i. “So the home continues to be the prominent arena of learning as the parents in turn pass on the traditions (see Deuteronomy 6:6-9).” (Ross) b. Give attention to know understanding: This appeal, and the appeal to hear in the first line, means there may be hesitancy or resistance on the part of the children that must be overcome by the appeal. Parents are often discouraged by a child’s resistance to their wisdom and instruction, but it still must be spoken, and with heartfelt appeals. c. For I give you good doctrine: The father had confidence in his instruction, no doubt because it was based on Scriptural wisdom. Confident that he spoke good doctrine, he could exhort them, “do not forsake my law.” -Enduring Word |
Proverbs 4:3-6:
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
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Proverbs 4:7:
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. |
If life were your stage and you could do whatever you wanted, what would you do? After all God has created us as individuals to grow. Not one living person has grown to their fullest potential. We are all meant to continuing growing until our last breath. Life really is our stage.
Life isn’t all about wanting more or being greedy. It is about acquiring knowledge along the way and what we do with that knowledge. Something more is calling you and it is up to you to do something with it. You cannot stay where you are and be content. That is human nature. But in all of your “getting” get understanding. Learn and understand who the God of the Bible is. Too many times we say that we are waiting on God to change something. You may be waiting on God while God is waiting on you. God has provided everything you need. All you need to do is take a step toward him and make a decision. -Tony Werner; Alamosa Christian Church |
Wisdom identifies three relationships that are crucial to the working the world. First, wisdom has a peculiar relationship with the creator. “I was beside him” from the beginning.
Wisdom was a “master workman” who did the work of the creator. Wisdom brought delight and joy to the creator. Wisdom is the one in whom the creator is well pleased. This reflects a durable companionship between wisdom and the creator.
In Christian tradition this claim of wisdom has morphed into inchoate Trinitarian theology so that wisdom from this text appears as the “word” (logos) in John 1:1-18 or in other texts as God’s generative Spirit. The text itself does not articulate anything about “the Christ” or “the word” who creates, but the interpretive trajectory set in motion here makes that claim.
Second, wisdom describes its (her?) relationship to all the creatures who come after and in the wake of wisdom. Not only are all the other creatures after, but they are created in and through the work of wisdom. Thus before wisdom no deep seas, no springs of water, no hills, no fields, no “bits of soil.” The creator creates with wisdom:
He established the heavens;
He made firm the skies above;
He established the foundations of the deep;
He assigned to the sea its limits.
God did all of this, but wisdom was there with God and so is implicated in the act of creation and in the continuing sustenance of creation.
But third, wisdom has a practical connection to human beings who live in God’s created, well-ordered world. Thus this entire speech of wisdom is a summons to humanity. (The wisdom tradition is famous for lacking all “sectarian” interest, so that no specific group or community or nation is addressed. The truth of wisdom pertains to all human beings without exception.) Wisdom summons human beings—all of them!—to “learn prudence, acquire intelligence”—that is, pay attention! And in the coda of verses 32-36 wisdom assures that those who heed wisdom are happy and have life. Conversely those who miss wisdom injure themselves and love death.
The more specific, immediate, and practical instruction in the book of Proverbs gives substance to what it means to “be wise.” Thus there is the teaching of wisdom concerning respect for the poor, the importance of generative work, the danger of careless speech, the risk of unpayable debt, the hazard of having the wrong kind of friends. These very specific forms of conduct will diminish the wellbeing of the community, whereas good work, good speech, good friends, and respect for the poor—all the counsel of wisdom—will bring wellbeing to the community. Wisdom guarantees it!
We can see that wisdom is the embodiment and agency of generative moral coherence in creation. Moral coherence insists that “deeds and consequences” come together. The world is not randomly “disconnected” so that we can do stupid destructive things with long-term impunity. The creator God, via wisdom, assures the connection between the choices we make and the outcomes with which we must live, that is, it is all about “sowing and reaping.” The moral coherence that wisdom assures is generative. That is, it is guaranteed that good choices will eventuate in shalom for the choosing self and choosing community. The connection is generative so that wisdom has agency and will do what it says by way of guarantee. It is for that reason that good choices sometimes surprise with good outcomes that one could not have reasonably anticipated. Wisdom is not a moral code, but a force that is creative and willing creation to its true fulfillment. “Being wise” is bringing one’s life, conduct, and policy into coherence with that generative resolve for shalom.
The alternative is “foolishness.” Foolishness is living against the grain of that moral coherence that wisdom guarantees. Foolishness is the assumption that we can do what we want and have what we want according to our money, power, and influence, without any check or restraint (Citizens United!). Foolishness in the modern world is imagining that we are autonomous, and that without God “everything is possible.” Thus Gerhard von Rad can call foolishness “practical atheism,” living as though God were not and as though wisdom did not summon.
One can see the connection between theological autonomy without acknowledging God and destructive behavior. Thus in Psalm 14
Fools say in their heart, “There is no God…
All the evildoers eat my people as they eat bread (vv. 1, 6).
The present political campaign in which we are enmeshed is in many ways an exhibit of foolishness that mocks wisdom. Thus we get a great deal of careless speech. We get assaults on the poor. We get indifference to hopeless debt that is evoked by history and guaranteed by policy. We get illusions of technological fixes to relational problems, as though some technical solution can effectively assuage global warning that is grounded in unbridled greed.
So much of the political campaign is conducted without attentiveness to any moral coherence, even though there is a great deal of cheap religious talk. Indeed it is a though there is a correlation between cheap religious talk and practical foolishness that does not understand that serious faith concerns the connectedness of all human beings and all creatures, so that society cannot be safely divided between the indifferent rich and the needy poor.
There is a strong strand of interpretation from this passage in a feminist direction, because the Hebrew word for wisdom (hokmah) is feminine. I suspect there are limits to how much can legitimately be made substantively of the gender of the noun. But insofar as wisdom is about connectedness of all creatures in a moral coherence, then the feminist accent is especially useful and suggestive. This is evident in the capacity of women in Congress to cooperate across ideological lines in a way that male members of Congress tend not to do. Indeed it is as of male macho posturing has no place for such connectedness. Thus there is in practice and in policy a rich vein of foolishness that in turn gives way greed and eventually to violence.
Clearly no party or candidate has a monopoly on wisdom, and no party or candidate is immune to foolishness, because foolishness shows up everywhere. It is worth remembering in the midst of the campaign that a) wisdom, not foolishness, delights the creator, b) wisdom generates moral coherence that cannot be mocked with impunity and, c) in quite practical ways policy and conduct can be more fully brought into line with the claims of wisdom. Foolishness is alive and well among us, promising short-term greedy solutions to big neighborly issues. But foolishness need not prevail. Wisdom came first. Foolishness came after and misleads. It is no wonder that wisdom calls to us with urgency. When we heed, we do not injure ourselves and do not love death. -Walter Brueggemann
Wisdom was a “master workman” who did the work of the creator. Wisdom brought delight and joy to the creator. Wisdom is the one in whom the creator is well pleased. This reflects a durable companionship between wisdom and the creator.
In Christian tradition this claim of wisdom has morphed into inchoate Trinitarian theology so that wisdom from this text appears as the “word” (logos) in John 1:1-18 or in other texts as God’s generative Spirit. The text itself does not articulate anything about “the Christ” or “the word” who creates, but the interpretive trajectory set in motion here makes that claim.
Second, wisdom describes its (her?) relationship to all the creatures who come after and in the wake of wisdom. Not only are all the other creatures after, but they are created in and through the work of wisdom. Thus before wisdom no deep seas, no springs of water, no hills, no fields, no “bits of soil.” The creator creates with wisdom:
He established the heavens;
He made firm the skies above;
He established the foundations of the deep;
He assigned to the sea its limits.
God did all of this, but wisdom was there with God and so is implicated in the act of creation and in the continuing sustenance of creation.
But third, wisdom has a practical connection to human beings who live in God’s created, well-ordered world. Thus this entire speech of wisdom is a summons to humanity. (The wisdom tradition is famous for lacking all “sectarian” interest, so that no specific group or community or nation is addressed. The truth of wisdom pertains to all human beings without exception.) Wisdom summons human beings—all of them!—to “learn prudence, acquire intelligence”—that is, pay attention! And in the coda of verses 32-36 wisdom assures that those who heed wisdom are happy and have life. Conversely those who miss wisdom injure themselves and love death.
The more specific, immediate, and practical instruction in the book of Proverbs gives substance to what it means to “be wise.” Thus there is the teaching of wisdom concerning respect for the poor, the importance of generative work, the danger of careless speech, the risk of unpayable debt, the hazard of having the wrong kind of friends. These very specific forms of conduct will diminish the wellbeing of the community, whereas good work, good speech, good friends, and respect for the poor—all the counsel of wisdom—will bring wellbeing to the community. Wisdom guarantees it!
We can see that wisdom is the embodiment and agency of generative moral coherence in creation. Moral coherence insists that “deeds and consequences” come together. The world is not randomly “disconnected” so that we can do stupid destructive things with long-term impunity. The creator God, via wisdom, assures the connection between the choices we make and the outcomes with which we must live, that is, it is all about “sowing and reaping.” The moral coherence that wisdom assures is generative. That is, it is guaranteed that good choices will eventuate in shalom for the choosing self and choosing community. The connection is generative so that wisdom has agency and will do what it says by way of guarantee. It is for that reason that good choices sometimes surprise with good outcomes that one could not have reasonably anticipated. Wisdom is not a moral code, but a force that is creative and willing creation to its true fulfillment. “Being wise” is bringing one’s life, conduct, and policy into coherence with that generative resolve for shalom.
The alternative is “foolishness.” Foolishness is living against the grain of that moral coherence that wisdom guarantees. Foolishness is the assumption that we can do what we want and have what we want according to our money, power, and influence, without any check or restraint (Citizens United!). Foolishness in the modern world is imagining that we are autonomous, and that without God “everything is possible.” Thus Gerhard von Rad can call foolishness “practical atheism,” living as though God were not and as though wisdom did not summon.
One can see the connection between theological autonomy without acknowledging God and destructive behavior. Thus in Psalm 14
Fools say in their heart, “There is no God…
All the evildoers eat my people as they eat bread (vv. 1, 6).
The present political campaign in which we are enmeshed is in many ways an exhibit of foolishness that mocks wisdom. Thus we get a great deal of careless speech. We get assaults on the poor. We get indifference to hopeless debt that is evoked by history and guaranteed by policy. We get illusions of technological fixes to relational problems, as though some technical solution can effectively assuage global warning that is grounded in unbridled greed.
So much of the political campaign is conducted without attentiveness to any moral coherence, even though there is a great deal of cheap religious talk. Indeed it is a though there is a correlation between cheap religious talk and practical foolishness that does not understand that serious faith concerns the connectedness of all human beings and all creatures, so that society cannot be safely divided between the indifferent rich and the needy poor.
There is a strong strand of interpretation from this passage in a feminist direction, because the Hebrew word for wisdom (hokmah) is feminine. I suspect there are limits to how much can legitimately be made substantively of the gender of the noun. But insofar as wisdom is about connectedness of all creatures in a moral coherence, then the feminist accent is especially useful and suggestive. This is evident in the capacity of women in Congress to cooperate across ideological lines in a way that male members of Congress tend not to do. Indeed it is as of male macho posturing has no place for such connectedness. Thus there is in practice and in policy a rich vein of foolishness that in turn gives way greed and eventually to violence.
Clearly no party or candidate has a monopoly on wisdom, and no party or candidate is immune to foolishness, because foolishness shows up everywhere. It is worth remembering in the midst of the campaign that a) wisdom, not foolishness, delights the creator, b) wisdom generates moral coherence that cannot be mocked with impunity and, c) in quite practical ways policy and conduct can be more fully brought into line with the claims of wisdom. Foolishness is alive and well among us, promising short-term greedy solutions to big neighborly issues. But foolishness need not prevail. Wisdom came first. Foolishness came after and misleads. It is no wonder that wisdom calls to us with urgency. When we heed, we do not injure ourselves and do not love death. -Walter Brueggemann
Proverbs 4:8-15:
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
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Proverbs 4:16-17:
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness. And drink the wine of violence. |
There is more irony in this picture of upside down morality, where wickedness has become meat and drink and even duty. It is a warning against setting foot on a path which one might think adventurous and diverting, for it can lead as far as this. The Bible does not hide the fact that one can become as zealous for evil as for good. "Stumble" is a key concern. Contrast the Christian concern in Romans 14:21
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Proverbs 4:18-22:
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. |
 Robert Haldane
All believers are saints, and in one sense all of them are equally sanctified (ie, set apart for God). They are equally separated or consecrated to God, and equally justified, but they are not all equally holy. The work of sanctification in them is progressive. There are babes, young men, and fathers in Christ. Some are weak in faith, and some are strong; but none of them are yet perfect, neither have they attained to that measure of holiness at which it is their duty constantly to aim (see Phil 3:12).
They are therefore to forget those things which are behind, and to reach forth to those things which are before, and are commanded to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more until the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18) From these premises the conclusion follows, that no one truly associates themselves with the faithful (Christ’s true people), who do not place a certain degree of confidence in the Lord’s kindness to them; although being undeserving and wretched sinners, being called by His goodness, they aspire to holiness. ‘For He has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.’ --Robert Haldane; MacDonald Publishing Company, An Exposition of Romans |
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Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
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Your heart is your most center part of the body. It is the most important party. God knows us by our heart. Want to know the true character of a person, look deep into their heart. That is the true person. The Holman Christian Standard Version says: “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” |
Heidi Vegh
The Lord doesn't call us to guard our hearts against things in our world because He is a strict dictator, but because He loves us and wants to protect us; He wants us to protect ourselves. If we are filling our minds and hearts with violent, sexual, or evil content, we are filling our hearts and minds with things that don't please God. This can hinder our relationship with Him and keep us from glorifying the Lord in our everyday life. This doesn't mean we need to abstain from secular entertainment completely; we just need to be vigilant in filtering out what we choose to watch and what we choose to listen to. In proverbs 4:23, it says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Meaning watch over the entrance to your heart; the door is where things can enter your heart. Be careful about what you let in.
--Heidi Vegh; Crosswwalk 12.21.21
--Heidi Vegh; Crosswwalk 12.21.21
Paul says we do: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage —”take captive every thought,” “make it obedient to Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. “This heart belongs to God,” we declare, “and you aren’t getting on board until you change your allegiance.”
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren’t allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him . . . Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ ” (Matthew 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, “Get away from me.” As if to say, “You are not allowed to enter my mind.”
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). --NIV Bible: Take Every Thought Captive
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage —”take captive every thought,” “make it obedient to Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. “This heart belongs to God,” we declare, “and you aren’t getting on board until you change your allegiance.”
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren’t allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him . . . Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ ” (Matthew 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, “Get away from me.” As if to say, “You are not allowed to enter my mind.”
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). --NIV Bible: Take Every Thought Captive
Zorek Richards
An article at "Active Christianity" states that "When we think of Jesus’ coming to earth, we understand that it was to create an upheaval – a transition of power. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” was His message from the very beginning (Matthew 4:17). When Jesus was born, the land was occupied by the Roman empire. The Emmaus pilgrims who spoke to Jesus on the road after His resurrection told Him that they hoped that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel (Luke 24:21). They were thinking of an external political upheaval, in which Israel was freed from the yoke of the Romans. It took time for the disciples to realize that it was a completely different kind of transition of power that Jesus brought about. It was the dominion of the throne of the heart that was at stake. For the life of a person proceeds from the heart (Proverbs 4:23)."
I believe this is being played out even today by people who believe, like the Emmaus pilgrims, that their assumed relationship with God is to bring about change through politics. That is not true and, in fact, think it just more likely to make things worse. Their effort will not be Biblically based even though they claim it is. It appears to be of those movements that does whatever it wants to push its own political ends and by peppering it with Bible verses it makes it a "mission from God." God really isn't impressed by how many Bible verses you can quote. True wisdom begins with the fear of the lord which is the beginning of wisdom and where knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) --Zorek Richards 4.16.22
I believe this is being played out even today by people who believe, like the Emmaus pilgrims, that their assumed relationship with God is to bring about change through politics. That is not true and, in fact, think it just more likely to make things worse. Their effort will not be Biblically based even though they claim it is. It appears to be of those movements that does whatever it wants to push its own political ends and by peppering it with Bible verses it makes it a "mission from God." God really isn't impressed by how many Bible verses you can quote. True wisdom begins with the fear of the lord which is the beginning of wisdom and where knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) --Zorek Richards 4.16.22
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And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. -Psalm 51:7-12 Christians guard their hearts because, as Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the spring of life.” Jesus said of those who believe in Him, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). When Jesus speaks of treasure throughout the Gospels, He has in mind what our hearts supremely value and are attracted to. What’s amazing about what Jesus says in John 7:38 and how it connects to Proverbs 4:23 is Jesus has sovereignly replaced our heart of stone with a new heart, with new desires and affections for Himself. Now Christians can find their meaning, value, and purpose in Christ alone, not in what their hearts may long for apart from Christ. [SOURCE: Christianity.com] 
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The word translated as heart in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word lêb. This word does mean heart in the literal sense but could also be used figuratively to mean feelings. Interestingly, lêb also extends to the will, the mind, and even the intellect. To a Hebrew, the heart is the center of everything, including understanding and wisdom.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) To put it in Western terms, the lêb or heart is synonymous with the mind or intellect. It is not only the center of feeling but also the center of reasoning and thought. [SOURCE: Hebrews12Endurance] Matthew 6:33 tells us, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Treasures have to do with what values we have. Do we operate in godly values that draw us closer to God's ways? Or do we follow worldly values that could leave us vulnerable? |
You may not think of masturbation as originating from an evil heart. Satan has ways of deceiving us into justifying what we do. As I often say, “God makes a way of escape; Satan makes a way of excuse.” Masturbation may not, in and of itself, be sinful. But when it comes from sinful lust, when it is done in a lustful manner (Matthew 5:28), or it becomes an addiction to us that hinders our walk with God, then it is. It is so easy to get caught up in various sexual lusts and acts. I know of many who have gotten caught up in it and it ruined their marriages, and often their lives for some time. One recurring problem I see in those who use pornography is lustful and addictive masturbation. One can easily lead to the other. Many users of pornography also have a perverted view of sex, whether inside or outside of marriage. One young lady I counseled with told me her husband felt he had to look at Playboy girls in order to be with her sexually. She felt degraded, and understandably so. Others have mistreated their wives sexually due to the perverted ideas they have gotten from pornography. Masturbation may not always be sinful, but when it stems from an evil heart, or when it causes an evil heart or other sins..................STAY AWAY!!! --James C Guy
Proverbs 4:24-27:
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
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Proverbs 4:24-27:
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. |
You’ve heard the saying, “Your actions speak louder than words.” The first part of Proverbs 4:26 is a timely reminder to us that we should consider our ways before we act.
The second part of Proverbs 4:26, “And let all your ways be established,” is saying that we should make sure our actions are set, fixed, acceptable, even habitual. The decisions that we make should be reflective of our Faith. The direction in which we choose to take our life should be honouring to the Lord. If you’re worried about the path before you not being clear or not knowing what way God wants you to go, remember these verses:
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Proverbs 4:27:
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.