Proverbs 4:20-27 – Guard our heart and steps

Being attentive to godly counsel is one avenue to garner wisdom. And it’s undeniable that the key to true life and wisdom is closely connected to godly counsel. No wonder these verses appeal to us to be attentive to wise counsel so that we will have wisdom. The call here is to be attentive. And attentiveness and receptivity involve one’s heart as well as one’s ears and eyes. The insight heard through one’s ears and observed by one’s eyes must be implanted deeply in one’s heart. Bear in mind that a healthy life is defined by one’s moral. An immoral life is regarded as an unhealthy life, whereas a moral life is a healthy life. To lead a healthy life, these verses lead us to consider both the inward as well as the outward life.   

Inwardly we must guard our heart. In the Bible, the heart and the mind are often used interchangeably. We are firstly told to guard our heart with all diligence. Why? Firstly, it’s because the heart is the gateway to life. It is the center of our moral consciousness or the seat of our affections. It’s in the heart that we are to cherish wisdom with deep affection. Secondly, it’s because what we entertain inwardly affects our life outwardly. We will become what our heart or mind continually dwells upon. It’s here that we can entertain pure thoughts and bar the impure ones. It’s here that the issues, the impulses, the choices and decisions that affect our existence in the world are being shifted through. When we constantly entertain pure thoughts in our mind, the end result is a morally sound life. Conversely when we allow evil thoughts to incessantly bombard our minds, the end result will be a corrupt life. Furthermore, when we keep wise counsel deeply and indelibly in our heart or our mind, we are less likely to forget them.

Verses 24-27 then take us to the outward life. Guarding our mind is important but equally important is the guarding of our mouth and eyes. The wise person puts away “deceitful mouth” and “devious speech.” God views speaking lies and untruth as one of the seven abominations. Two things to take note of concerning a perverse speech. This kind of talk first takes place as thoughts in the heart before being crystalized into a perverse speech. Secondly, it often results from one’s association with people who engage in this kind of speech. The teacher here advocates honest speech.

Verse 25 makes reference to the eye. The call to look directly ahead and to fix straight in front of you imply honesty. A person engaging in shifty and dishonest speech cannot fix his gaze directly. Hence this verse calls for honesty in speech. Besides, a fix gaze also suggests the singleness of one’s motive. Rounding up, verses 26-27 admonish us to be careful in the steps we take in life. They can either lead to life or to trouble. The call here is to weigh our options, then choose the right path, and diligently persist in them. The wise will consider the well-established and taken path. People with wisdom don’t allow themselves to be distracted and upended by the trifles of life. Nothing, not adversity, not prosperity nor temptations of any kind, can ever waylay them from the well tested path. Evil will be avoided when one stay focused in the right path. So, remember to watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. And also, remember to guard our speech and our feet, making sure that they are firmly planted on the established path to true life!