Pastor Podcast - Proverbs 4 - Acquire Wisdom!

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t even know what to do next,” you’re closer to wisdom than you think. We take Proverbs 4 seriously as a blueprint for Christian living, starting with Solomon’s backstory: a young, inexperienced leader who asked God for wisdom instead of pretending he already had it. That single decision ripples through the whole book of Proverbs and it can reshape how we make decisions today. 

We also push back on a loud message in our culture: “Look inside yourself and you’ll find the path.” Proverbs tells a different story. Wisdom is something we receive from the Lord, and James 1:5 makes it plain that God gives wisdom generously when we ask in faith. We talk about why Jesus is not only our Savior for the past and our hope for the future, but the wisdom we need for everyday pressure right now, through the help of the Holy Spirit. 

From there, Proverbs 4 breaks into three big movements that we apply to real life: do whatever it takes to acquire wisdom, do whatever it takes to avoid wickedness, and do whatever it takes to attend your way by guarding your heart with vigilance. We get practical about discipleship and parenting, the tone of a loving father’s instruction, and why dabbling with sin never stays small. If you want to walk with clarity, protect your heart, and stay focused on the narrow path that leads to life, this conversation will meet you where you are. 

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs direction, and leave a review so more people can find these Proverbs conversations. What decision are you asking God for wisdom about this week?

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Transcript

Monday Welcome And Sunday Recap

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Well, hey Life House family, welcome back to our Monday time. Monday. That's right. Mondays, whether you are rejoicing. We should rejoice every day. Some people Mondays back in the work week, depending on the event.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

This is the day the Lord has made. I'll rejoice and be glad with it. He makes Mondays.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Even on Monday morning. Monday mornings.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 0:36

But a great time. We get to really dig back into what we talked about on Sunday, just reflect on it a little bit more. I know even yesterday there was 27 verses that's unpacking a lot. Lots to unpack. Lots of wisdom to consider. Proverbs chapter four. Any general reflections? And we're really continuing to progress from the path to like really hear the importance of building our life around and acquiring wisdom and what that means. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

So the book of Proverbs is a book just jam-packed with wisdom. It's considered wisdom literature. It's written by a man who's considered to be the wisest man who ever lived. Certainly in his day, scripture reveals him as being wiser than anyone else around in a profound way. But I I really think it's it's interesting to consider. And this is really kind of what ties, like why. So our theme for the year is, you know, really emphasizing and thinking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our theme verses, Zechariah 4-6, where the Lord of hosts says, like, if you're going to do what I'm calling you to do, it's not going to be by might, not by power, but by my spirit. And so just kind of considering that and thinking about this man Solomon, who's imparting this incredible wisdom, to think about who he was. Scripture also reveals like there's these three occasions where as Solomon was becoming king, he reigned for 40 years, a thousand years before the birth of Christ. So a thousand years,

Solomon’s Origin Story Of Wisdom

SPEAKER_01 2:05

really 900 and something BC was from to another 900 BC, is when he reigned. But there were these two occasions. I think it's in 1 Chronicles 22 and another place where King David, as he's passing the baton of leadership in these public settings, acknowledges Solomon is young and inexperienced, not wise, but in need of wisdom, you know, as he's entering into this kingship and this responsibility to lead the people. And then when Solomon became king, and the first thing that he did was he went to worship at Gibeon or Gibeah, and it says that he was praying or worshiping the Lord, and the Lord revealed himself to him in a dream by night and said, Ask for anything. And Solomon says, Listen, I'm a child. Like I don't even know how to go out and come in. You know, so he's like, I'm overwhelmed with the responsibility and what's going to be required of me and the wisdom that I'll need. And really, I think so he asked for wisdom, and God grants him wisdom, and God even says, Because you asked for wisdom, I'm not just going to give you wisdom, I'm going to give you honor, I'm going to give you wealth as well. But I think really Solomon listened to his father's instruction, King David, and there's reference here in this proverb where David encouraged him. Like the three points are acquire wisdom, avoid wickedness, and attend your way, and really get wisdom, get insight. And and really, and there's other references too where David told, you know, Solomon, like, look to the Lord, trust in the Lord, believe in the Lord, and and live by his wisdom. And so I think that's really why, because of that instruction, that discipleship, if you will, Solomon asked for the right thing for wisdom, you know, and it's just profound to think. And then we know what Solomon became, not perfect. And Solomon actually did some dumb things too. Like, you know, he wasn't wise in some regards, like Jesus was and is, but he was wise, became wise, and and even it's profound to think about. Like people came from all over, like from all the kingdoms. He wasn't just wise or known for wisdom within the nation of Israel, but all the nations, and they would come. The Queen of Sheba came seeking wisdom. She wanted to ask Solomon hard questions. The Bible says that Solomon was able to ask answer all the hard questions that she asked, but her response was her breath was taken away by what she saw. And she gave glory not to Solomon. She didn't say, Solomon, you're the bomb. You know, she acknowledged that, you know, she was amazed by what she saw, but she gave glory to God and even explicitly said, like, God made you king. Like the reason you are what you are is because God empowered you, God has enabled you, the Lord Yahweh. And so even just thinking and tying that to our theme for the year, like we want to see, you know, Solomon as an example. Solomon's God is our God. And I can't help but think of the exhortation in James 1, chapter 5, where James writes and says, Listen, if any of you lacks wisdom, like if any of you don't know how to go out and come in, if you feel young and inexperienced and you just don't know what to do, ask God for wisdom. Because God gives wisdom generously without reproach. You know, but we're to ask in a specific way, James 1, 6, we're to ask in faith, like we're to ask believing, we're to ask knowing that God is the all-knowing God, and that if he's going to give us wisdom, it's going to be right wisdom, righteous wisdom. Right. And so I don't know, just that's kind of what's I've been thinking about, what I'm inspired by and thankful for. Yeah, just that that that testimony of Solomon, really beyond even just specifically the book of Proverbs and specifically Proverbs chapter four.

SPEAKER_00 5:49

And I think, like you say in the first three chapters, really laying the groundwork of where wisdom comes from, and four is like we're continuing to build that gravity. But everything kind of you said laying out with Solomon reminds us like wisdom's outside of us. You know, we're in a culture that says, uh, you know, look inside, you know, just discover who you are. Figure out your thing. I was even, I was at a theme park over the summer. We we did a visit, and there was like this sign on the way out, and it says, Oh, the path that you chart, it's within your heart. And I was like, actually, I don't think that's a good idea. You know, the Bible says there is a way that seems right to man and it leads to death. Exactly. Like if we just do what we want to do, I know myself, and very much in that case, it's it's not going to be the way, which I know we'll dig into the wickedness. But the idea is wisdom, like with James 1.5. You ask God because He is wisdom. And so I think that's the real important takeaway from the first chapters that Solomon's leading in. You know, he was young, he was inexperienced, he needed that external, he needed God to grant that wisdom. And that's where we need to be focused on externally as wisdom, and not believe what our culture is saying, that you can somehow discover all of that from within yourself. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

I mean, really, Jesus is the answer to everything. And I tie the questions. What's the question? You know, but 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, you know, but by his doing, the Father's doing, we are in Christ Jesus, who has become to us the wisdom of God. Like if we have Jesus, we have wisdom. Like we know what we need to know so that we can live this life in a way that honors God and that we can thrive, that we can have the abundant life. Jesus Christ is our wisdom. We can follow him. And we have the Holy Spirit, right? We're born again, born of the Spirit

Asking God For Wisdom Today

SPEAKER_01 7:35

that guides and leads us, that teaches us and gives us the ability to comprehend and see and know and understand things that we would not otherwise know, understand, or comprehend. And so, like we have access to so much, right? Jesus is our wisdom. I would also say, you know, in Romans, you know, the the wages of sin is death, but Jesus is the gift of God, right? The gift he gets Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. But I would say that Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. And wisdom, you know, is one of the things that he, you know, by the Spirit of God imparts to us and that we have access to. So just like Solomon, who clearly was wise, like let's learn from his example. Despite the fact that there was a time when he felt and he was a child and didn't even know how to go out and come in, he asked for wisdom. God gave him wisdom. In the same way, James 1 James 1:5, like, let's do the same thing. Let's learn from that. Let's ask the same God for wisdom so that we know how to go out and how to come in, right?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

And I think something you said is really important. A lot of times we think about what Christ did for us on the cross in the past. We're excited about the promise in the future of eternal life, and we forget Jesus is the wisdom that helps us to live right now. Yes. We have wisdom right now, you know. So encouraging all believers, sometimes we can get in that past and future, which are amazing promises and amazing work of God, but there is help for today, and that's the wisdom, and that means starting to get the wisdom into all of our lives. Not just Jesus, oh, he's my savior, my faith, but then I'm doing my work, my family, everything else, and forgetting the wisdom that's available to us in Jesus Christ. And if we allow that to start to permeate, I think that's what we're starting to see in chapter four. Get wisdom in all areas of your life, of all parts. You know, attend, acquire wisdom, and it's going to help you avoid the wickedness and your way. But it comes from that desire to gain that wisdom that comes from Christ. Yeah. Well, let's get into Proverbs 1. Yeah, let's walk through it. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

We've already long intro, but yeah, it's absolutely one of the things, you know, starting in verse one, where he says, Hear, O sons of father's instruction, is to Solomon writing. Here we talk Sunday about how that word here is from the Hebrew word shem, which is not just, hey, like, like listen casually, but really heed, right? Like don't just hear, but heed the words that you hear, receive, and accept, and respond accordingly, appropriately to these words. I do think it's profound because when Solomon was writing this, he was also the king. And he's imparting wisdom not merely as like an instructor or a teacher or you know, an advisor or a wise counselor, but as a father, right? And I think he he could say, like, hear a king's instruction, and there's authority associated with that, you know, like the same way Jesus says, all authority in heaven and earth have been given to me. Like the king was the the it's I don't mean this in the demeaning way, at the top dog and could say, like, jump, and your response is how high? Like heed that instruction. But this is endearing, like this is

Why “Look Within” Falls Short

SPEAKER_01 10:45

relational. Like he's he could have said, like, here your king's command, but instead he said, hear your father's instruction. And so we need that, that's the tone of this. And I just I don't know that that that hits me as a father, and and I really I love is behind the words expressed. The commands, the authoritative commands found throughout this to acquire wisdom. So I I see these this proverb as having three sections that can be summed up as do whatever it takes to acquire wisdom, do whatever it takes, nothing casual, like to avoid wickedness, and do whatever it takes to attend your way. So acquire. So in verse five, where there's that instruction, get wisdom, get insight, get insight. That word that's translated as get there in the ESV is probably more appropriately translated as acquire. Like it's not something that you're just gonna get by osmosis, right? Like it's not, you know, I I've heard of people and you know, thinking like I'm just gonna, you know, listen to the Bible like while I'm sleeping or have the Bible playing in the background. No, you know, that you're not gonna get the wisdom that way. No, study, like invest, like do whatever it takes to acquire wisdom. Like, not popularity, not power, not prestige. Wisdom is what you need. Get understanding, insight. This is the exhortation of a father speaking to his children. Hear this, heed this information. I I love verse 7. This is kind of in the ESV. I don't like the ESV translation on this, where it says the beginning of wisdom is this, get wisdom. That's kind of like what? What's that saying? But really circular, but the King James Version says the principal thing, like in other in is like the foundational thing, like before you get anything else, get wisdom. Like this, make this the priority in your life, is what Solomon is telling his children.

SPEAKER_00 12:43

100%. I think that, like you say, it's the desire. I think what we're seeing here is desire wisdom. Like it starts with wanting to be wise. Yeah, like you're not gonna get it all, like we say, in in one dose, but and I see that, like you said in verse one, the be attentive. So it's this focus on this is how I want to live my life in obedience, in submission. So that's the fear of the Lord starts. Or I mean the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. So it starts with that submission, obedience, the desire to be wise. And so you're not like you say, it's not gonna just haphazardly come upon you, it's not gonna be by osmosis, but it starts with that desire to live and to point our life in that direction, be attentive, and it's a continuous process.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

You know, so you just said the desire to live, and I want to point that out too. So, verse five, you know, get wisdom, or uh excuse me, do not forget. Four, like, you know, when he refers back to when his father taught him, you know, and imparted this wisdom, and he said, like, keep these words, hold fast my words, my instruction, and live. So the end goal ultimately is not wisdom. Like, get wisdom, but you know, be not just because so that you know, period, it's get wisdom, get insight so that you can live, right? The ultimate wisdom is the means to life. Wisdom is the means, and really I think this psalm and the or excuse me, this proverb points forward to uh eternal life, abundant life, salvation, right, you know, in Christ. Get wisdom, like do whatever it takes to understand, to know wisdom so that you can live life. That's the end, that's the ultimate

Proverbs 4 Calls For Acquisition

SPEAKER_01 14:30

goal, the burden that Solomon had for his children. And really, whether it's his particular son, Rehoboam, or his many children that you know were the fruit of 700 wives and 300 concubines, or simply his subjects, because kings referred to their subjects as sons and daughters, you know, in conversation, you know, and but he spoke to them not as a king, but as a loving father. And so I think that's that that's profound.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

Yep. And like you say, it's going to be living the life now. Right. And that's going to be God doesn't want us to live a foolish life. You know, we're saved for walking in obedience, walking in wisdom. He gives us this wisdom to live as we were intended before the fall. It's kind of that restoration aspect, I would say. Yeah. You know, if you're Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:19

And this is the thing, like, as a parent, as a father, like I don't want, because I love my kids, I don't want good for them. I want best, what's best for them. I don't want even second best for them. I want the best for them. This is the heart behind what's being communicated here. This is a father's instruction. And one thing that we can talk about a little bit is discipleship. You know, our children, like we we should be having these conversations with our children. We are to steward our children, we're to disciple our children, to lead them and to point them in the way. And if we're not doing that, then we're being foolish, we're being irresponsible, we're not being faithful to the Lord and to steward well the gifts that have been placed within our care. And so that's really something to take away and apply to our lives, whether we're a mother or a father, or just simply an aunt or an uncle or a grandparent or an adult that has influence over a child, someone that we love or have the opportunity to influence, like we need to understand the responsibility. If if we're not discipling our children, someone or something is. And if we're to disciple the our children, are we disciple discipling them rightly? Are we leading them in the way, the way of wisdom, the way of Jesus, or are we leading them astray? And Jesus, and I talked about this on Sunday, gives very clear instructions. Like he says, first of all, let the little children come unto me, do not hinder them. I think it's important to ask yourself to assess your life. Am I hindering my child in any way because of what I'm doing, what I'm saying? Am I leading them astray? Am I hindering them? Jesus also says, if any of you causes one of the least of these to stumble, let him be cast into the depths of a sea with a millstone tied around his neck, you know, and so it's important for us to under to understand and know like the responsibility, you know, and and so there's sins of commission and omission, you know. He who knows the right thing to do and does it not, to him it is a sin. And so if we are, you know, sinning by omission and not fulfilling our obligation to disciple our children well, it's a sin. You know, and God's not okay with it. And so understand that and know that. I mean, to take away Solomon was faithful in imparting this wisdom to his children. David was faithful in parting wisdom to Solomon, and Solomon even recalls to mind, you know, that time. There's a rub here. I actually was just listening to something this morning, the testimony of someone who is not a follower of Christ, and they talked about how they were forced to go to church and how awful that was. You know, I was just thinking about this, man. I forced my forced, my kids are older now, they're adults. I forced my kids to do a lot of things. Like I'll never forget, like, you know, forcing my daughter Abby to mow the lawn one time. It's comical to think back because she was just so angry and couldn't believe that I was forcing her to mow the lawn and she had these glasses on and she was crying and they were fogging up, and we were looking out the window and laughing at her. Not because we didn't care about her. But yeah, like it was a good thing. We need to teach our kids to work and responsibility, and we force them to do their chores and we force them to go to work, you know, all these things. And it's important. Like, listen, we're we're not trying to force them to do something that we think will harm them. Like, yeah, we bring them to church because we want them to hear the gospel. Like, and and this, the other thing is we don't bring them to church so that the church can do what we need to do, but really the church can come alongside us and helping us reinforce these truths, and so it's just so important, like, and to know and understand the like the value, the opportunity that's there. Yes, it may be, and their perspective may be that you're forcing them to come, but we force our kids to do a lot of we force them to go to the doctor if they don't want to go to the doctor, you know, to get shots. You know, I'll never forget like when my daughter Abby was a kid, like literally I had to like restrain her almost like a straitjacket so that she could get a shot, you know, and she didn't want to get that shot. And she in her little mind did not understand or comprehend why I was allowing this doctor to hurt her in that way, but she needed that medicine. And so, yeah, our kids need Jesus. And listen, we need to, in a sense, take them fishing, so to speak, as often as we can, because if we want to catch a fish, if we want them to catch the truth, this wisdom, like let's go fishing whenever we can, you know.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

Does that make sense? 100%. And I think probably you say the rub, we always have to be careful is how you're approaching it. Yeah. And the importance is if you're a parent, do you love coming to church? Like, because that's what your kids will see. Like, you love being in church and

Discipling Children With Conviction

SPEAKER_00 20:10

you love wisdom. You know, that's what's I see coming out of Solomon is like, man, this is so important. I love this, this is needed. Not like, hey, you gotta do this, you know, not forcing, but man, I want the best for you. And so we as a family love church, and so that's what we do as a family, not like, hey, you gotta check a box. Because sometimes I think that's the people who feel forced. Yeah. It's that attitude of like making you do it rather than I love doing this, you know, and that's what prayerfully is going to rub off. So I think yeah, as parents you got to do.

SPEAKER_01 20:45

Like it's not just, hey, I know you don't want to come to church, but suck it up buttercup. You know, exactly. Like, hun. If they're feeling that way. Son, daughter, I love you. This is so important. I know you don't understand, but but I I'm doing this because I love you. You know, I remember, you know, being punished as a child, and my dad telling me, like, this is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you, and I was like, no, it's not, you know. But but I understand that now, like, you know, in my little mind at that time. But I remember my dad like lovingly having that conversation with me. And in the same way, you know, we should try to help our children understand why we do what we do and why we choose to force them to do certain things, or force is a strong word, but that might be their perspective. Why we make them do certain things. Right.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

And that probably, you know, again, it'll be situations will vary, but you know, what are you doing during the week? Like you say, to disciple your kids. Because if it's part of who your family is, then church is just the natural outflow. I would surmise if you're kind of in that situation, you're probably not talking to your kids about Jesus all a week, and then it's hey, we got to go to church now. It's like, well, we don't do it the rest of the week. Why do I have to do it today? So you kind of build your authentic family that way.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

I mean, it goes back to Joshua. Joshua 24, where Joshua told the people, Ask for me in my house, we will serve the Lord. Like this is who we are, this is what we do. If you live in this house, ask for me in my house, we serve the Lord. Like we go to church, like we worship the Lord on the first day of the week. We serve Him, we honor Him, you know, and yeah, disciple your children in that way. Show them the importance and why help them. Do your best to help them understand why. Pray for them.

SPEAKER_00 22:28

Yeah. And not to put overly much pressure on parents, but your kids spend more time around you than anybody else. So they're going to observe. I think, like you said, we're always impacting others, and others are impacting us. So how are you impacting those around you and how are those around you impacting you? So we talk about that, the need to have community, examine your community, and especially with the kids, like who are they spending time with? And as always, we need to reach out and try to bring others to Christ. But we also need those, where are we getting and who are we listening to? And ultimately we'll see in Proverbs, right? Like train up your children in the way they go. If you're being faithful with that, obedient in that, then there's a problem. So first section, do whatever. All this ties into avoiding wickedness. Like second part. Does anybody want to be wicked? I mean, is that your desire? You know, like that's always kind of the funny thing of like, I want to do what I want. Well, do you want to be evil? Do you want to, you know, those are questions we have.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Like, don't play with fire because you will get burned. You know, I mean, I think even, you know, in the New Testament, the exhortation to be sober, to be watchful, 1 Peter 5.8, because there's an adversary who pro who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The instruction there is not be afraid. It's be alert, like be be attentive. Like, like don't, like, this is not, don't be casual, don't be flippant, you know. Like there's a concern out there, there's danger out there. So avoid it. Like, like, just don't even open the door, don't crack the door. Like, literally, the instruction is like, don't even set foot on the path of wickedness. Like, just pass on. Which verse is it? Oh, yeah, verse 15. Avoid it. Do not and do not go on it. Turn away from it and pass on. Like, like, like, that's not for you. Like, that's not as Christians, as believers who follow Jesus, like, like we can't be on the broad road that leads to destruction and the narrow road that leads to life at the same time. Like, don't even go on the road of destruction. Like John 8 12, Jesus says, if you follow me, believe in me, I'm the light of the world. You don't have to walk in darkness anymore because you will have the light that leads to life. Like, why would you want darkness? Why would you want wickedness when you have wisdom, you know, that leads to life, and you have life. And so have nothing to do. And again, it's not casual, it's flippant. Like, really, the tone of this is do whatever it takes to get wisdom, acquire wisdom. Do whatever it takes to avoid wickedness. Like, you don't want wickedness. You don't want evil. Like that's in summary, the section, second section here.

SPEAKER_00 25:12

Nothing good is going to come out of that. And avoiding evil, like you say, is inextricably linked to wisdom. Like you're not just gonna, again, by accident avoid evil and wickedness. We know because of our sinful nature, like it's gonna go that way. So if we're not focused, you know, fleeing those things. And you never want to be legalistic, but the idea is like, why do you want to dabble with it? I remember Jason Kryler had a sermon, you know, like a lot of times we're trying to get up to the line, and when you do that, you're gonna find the line is behind you. So, you know, like why even tempt, you know, don't even like take a step that direction. Sinfulness.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

You know, sin is a slippery slope. And I've often said, I recall to mind a preacher who preached a sermon called We're All One Step From Stupid. Like one step, you know what I mean? Like it is all it takes. And sin is a slippery slope. And we've been there, you know, like where we think, oh, I'm okay. Like, you know, I can deal with this, I'm I'm mature enough, like I can expose myself to this. And yeah, like if we're gonna if we're justifying in that way, it's just not gonna go well. Like, you know, I mean, sin is danger. Sin's like a cancer. Like, you know, I think about crabgrass in my in my yard. Like when one little blade of crabgrass appears, that's not gonna be the only blade over time. Like it spreads like cancer. You know, I think about cancer. Like if if someone, if the doctor told me I have cancer, I'm like, get it out. Like, like I don't want cancer. Like we know, cancer, the big C like usually it leads to death. Like, same thing. Like, that's the idea here. Like, understand and know what lies in the balance, right? Ultimately, heaven, hell, life, death, salvation, condemnation. Like, we want life, salvation, freedom for our children. We don't want condemnation, death, wickedness for them, like corruption for them. And so, yeah, like don't even go there, just pass on, fix your eyes on Jesus. You know, this leads into this to the last point, you know. So acquire wisdom, avoid wickedness, attend your way. One thing that I didn't

Avoid Wickedness Without Dabbling

SPEAKER_01 27:20

point out on Sunday, and it's fascinating, is if you look at the section, I think it's 11 times that different parts of the body are referred to in here eyes, mouth, hands, feet, heart. And so, really, I think the thesis of this whole proverb is verse 23. Keep your heart with all vigilance. Like ultimately, everything stems from the heart, for from it flow. The springs of life. Like everything in the Bible it says, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Like what you speak, what you say is really a reflection of your heart. Where you walk, where you go is a reflection of what your heart, what your what you, what your heart ultimately hungers for. And really that's the idea. Like, attend your way, like your whole way. Like, don't so often I think we in our culture today try to compartmentalize things, our faith, even. We just can't do that. That's not what we see in the Bible. Like, it's all inclusive, right? I love just the symbol of what baptism is and full immersion. Like, we don't just baptize your head or your feet or your head, like you you're all immersed, means submerged in the water. And that's a picture. Like, we're to be all in. Like we can't, you know, have one foot in the world and one full, one foot in wickedness and one foot in wisdom, or one four foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom. It's it's like either we're in or we're not in, you know. And so that's the exhortation here. Attend your way, guard your heart with all vigilance. There's passion, there's drama there with this exhortation, not with all vigilance. And really, it's really that guard keep can be used in a military context, right? You know, like if a soldier is not guarding his post, like that's not good. Right. But you know, if a mom is not attending or guarding her children from danger, yeah, just run out into the street, do whatever you want to do. No, we don't do that. Like, that's the idea here. Like, it's not just guard your heart, it's guard your heart, keep your heart with all vigilance in every way, shape, or form. Do whatever it takes to attend your way, assess your heart. I think of David's prayer when he prayed, Search me, oh God, know my heart. You know, and if there's anything in there that needs to get out, like, Lord, wash me, cleanse me, you know, I repent, I look to you, help me, like be diligent, be vigilant. Not just on one occasion check the box and then move on. It's continually attend your way day in and day out. You know, talks about the walk and and that's really the way you live your life.

SPEAKER_00 30:00

Yep. And I think verse 26, you know, pondering the path because it comes together. And I think that's where we need to be examining, you know, our feelings, our thoughts. Do they align with scripture? Where are we? No, feelings can lie to us. So like, examine that, guarded. Like, why am I feeling angry? Why am I feeling frustrated? Why am I feeling depressed? You know, what is it? And if it's seeing brokenness in the world, well, then that's a good thing. But if it's because you're offended or whatever the case may be, we really need to examine, like you say, what's coming out of the heart, because that's what Jesus says. The it's not what goes into us that it defiles us, but what comes out, you know, from the heart. We're speaking from the heart when we react. And I even think of pondering like

Guard Your Heart And Stay Focused

SPEAKER_00 30:45

that examining, you know, the longer you can give yourself to react, even if you create the space of time, you know, then you can like, no, you know, why am I thinking this, feeling this, and respond in a way that is Christ-like and aligning it versus, you know, those things that will come out, and we're where did that come from? So I think we're really seeing a lot of that here in terms of attending to our way and and needing to live authentically, but examining where those thoughts come from, where those words, feelings, desires, all of those things are gonna come from the heart.

SPEAKER_01 31:17

Yeah. When I think about that word ponder the path of your feet, verse 26, like I think about it just the exhortation I think implied there is be intentional. Like, don't just go with the flow. Think about where you're headed. Like, like don't just, you know, we're prone to wander, right? So don't wander, right, right? Like stay on the path, run the race. I think of Hebrews 1 and 2. And really, I think that kind of sums up in the New Testament what's being said in this lack section where the author says, like, run the race that is set before you, lay aside or cast off the weight and sin that so easily entangles, you know, fixing your eyes on Jesus. So thinking about what it says, you know, here, like let your eyes, verse 25, look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Like Hebrew says, you know, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Like if you're running a race, you know, you're not gonna win the race if you're like looking over here and here. No, like look at the finish line, like where you're headed, ponder the path of your feet. Like, don't just like you know, run arbitrarily everywhere. No, run the race that is set before you. Like attend your way. Do every do whatever it takes to do that. Guard your heart with all vigilance.

SPEAKER_00 32:31

It's a good illustration. If you're driving school or you know, I learned to ride a motorcycle back in the day, where you're looking is where you're gonna go. You know, so like when you're if you're driving and you do this, like the wheel's gonna go that way, or motorcycle. If I look this way, the the lean is gonna go that way. So why, like you say, keeping that focus. Fix your eyes on Jesus. The last verse. Don't go to the right or the left. Because it's possible we think of wickedness and those things, but then there's also the self-righteousness and pride that also leads, which Proverbs will tell us a lot about, that leads to the falls. So we can get either way. You know, that focus has to be straight. Some people are like, ah, you know, it can lean this way. No, you gotta stay right on Christ. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

And I think that that's the exhortation essentially is stay the course. Right. Right? Persevere, endure. Don't take a detour. Like don't turn to the right or the left, you know, and get lost. But stay the course. One degree over time will take you to the city. Absolutely. That's a good point to bring up. Yeah. Do whatever it takes to attend your way. So, yeah, I think that that kind of sums up. A lot in here is about. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 33:37

Well, we hope this discussion's been helpful. What do we have to look forward to next week?

SPEAKER_01 33:41

Another proverb.

unknown 33:42

Of course.

SPEAKER_01 33:44

We're going five?

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Are we moving ahead a little bit?

SPEAKER_01 33:45

No, we're not five. You know, I can't remember which one it is. I think it might be eight. Um, but yeah. That will be decided today.

SPEAKER_00 33:54

Okay. C B D. That's why you want to show up sometime.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

Another proverb, though, we can assure you of that.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

And hopefully we are continuing that doing the daily challenge, proverb every day, will really guide our direction.

What’s Next And Final Encouragement

SPEAKER_00 34:05

You can always do it like at least once a year. You know, it's many things that we can continue to draw from Proverbs. So well, Lifehouse family, as always, we hope this time helps you, encourages you through your week, continuing to bring God's word, walk in wisdom, acquire wisdom. It's part of our everyday. We have the help in Christ for whatever we are dealing with right now. So just want to encourage you, as always, send us any questions, comments you have. We're always glad to field those, but we look forward to seeing you next time.