Proverbs 23:19-28 - Guiding your heart right

November 11, 2020

Guiding your Heart right #

Proverbs 23:19-28

Introduction

There are a few things that we are told to do, in order to keep our heart right in a messed up world.

Prov. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

This is not an unfamiliar theme in the book of Proverbs. The heart is an important issue that is discussed time and time again throughout the book of Proverbs.

Guide thine heart in the way… this doesn’t happen by accident! A guide is not merely a road map, but it continues to give information all along the way!

Be wise! Guide thine heart in the way! What way? God’s way, the way of instruction, they way of understanding, the way of wisdom!

I. Avoid drinkers (20-21) #

A. Partiers (20) #

i. Winebibbers – one who drinks much wine #

ii. Indulging the fleshly appetites - #

  • “Birds of a feather flock together.”
  • You don’t see sheep hanging out with wolves.

iii. Many examples in the Bible of parties #

  • The prodigal son in Luke 15

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

  • The rich man in Luke 12:18-20, build greater barns… take it easy,

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Dan 5:1-6 – Hand writing on the wall…

iv. They WILL INFLUENCE YOU! #

B. Poverty (21a) “the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty” #

i. They will come to poverty - #

  • The prodigal son, wasted his substance…

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

C. Pitiful (21b) “drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” #

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

II. Aquire some tools (22-25) #

A. Parents (22) #

  • This is not a new topic, and yet it is an important topic.
  • The rebellious nature of people is very quick to disregard the instruction of their father and mother

Prov. 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Prov. 4:1 ¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Prov. 13:1 ¶ A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Prov. 15:5 ¶ A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

B. Price (23) #

  • Freedom isn’t free! - We appreciate our veterans who have paid the price to grant us the freedom we have.

i. Truth #

  • The Bible is not free! - Many men have given their lives to translate, print and make the Bible available. There was a price to be paid!

ii. Wisdom – discernment, good use of knowledge #

iii. Instruction – it cost time to get instruction #

iv. Understanding – it takes application of oneself. #

C. Pleasing (24-25) #

  • Who are you trying to please??

    • You cannot please yourself, because you will never be happy!
    • Live for God, please God with your life.

  • Wise parents will be pleased, live to please them!

III. Attentive to God’s Way (26-28) #

A. Give God your heart (26) #

Prov. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

  • The safest place for your heart, is to give it to God!

Rom. 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

B. Govern your eyes (26) #

i. Observing, watching God’s way #

  • Reading, learning, studying God’s way!

ii. For… (27) pitfalls #

  • Sin of looking!

1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • If your eyes are busy observing the ways of the father, they cannot be looking at sin
  • Psalm 101:1-8 (3*)
  • Looking at woman caused Samson to fall, looking at woman caused David to fall, looking at woman caused Solomon to fall… you better guard your eyes!
  • Horses wear blinders, to keep them focused in the right direction!

Prov. 27:20 ¶ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

iii. You are hunted… (28) #

  • God is the only one that can save you!

Psa. 119:105 ¶ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Tags: Guide Sin