Proverbs tells us to keep our eyes focused on wisdom, to keep our eyes focused on what is ahead. Yesterday, in Proverbs 3, we learned to trust in God, and He will make our paths straight. Today, we are reminded to keep our eyes focused on Him and not allow the distractions to pull our focus. But here’s the thing. For most of us, our distractions may not be terrible temptations but the stuff of life. We are reminded that our Father knows we have need of these things. When we focus first on Him and His kingdom, we find these things are there, for our Father cares for us. Let’s focus on the purpose of our life, not the stuff of our life. And then we will actually find our life.

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Good morning! It’s a pleasure to be with you as we continue our journey through the wisdom of Proverbs. Today, we’re exploring Proverbs 4, and I want to highlight a few verses that resonated with me. As a reminder, we’re reading a chapter of Proverbs each day throughout January, and today marks our fourth day.

Proverbs 4 starts by emphasizing the importance of listening to a father’s instruction and being attentive to gain insight. It encourages holding fast to wise teachings, keeping commandments, and seeking wisdom and insight. These foundational verses stress the value of embracing wisdom as a guide for living.

Now, let’s delve into the passages that particularly caught my attention, found in verses 20 through 24. They emphasize the idea of keeping a straight path and staying focused on God’s wisdom. It resonates with the theme we explored in the previous chapters about trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding.

“20 My child, be attentive to my words. Incline your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape your sight. Keep them within your heart, 22 for they are life to those who find them, and healing to all flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you all crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”

The repetition of the importance of attentiveness, keeping God’s words within our hearts, and maintaining focus on His wisdom is striking. The imagery of the heart as the source of life’s springs underscores the vital role wisdom plays in shaping our lives.

What stands out to me in these verses is the caution to guard our hearts against crooked speech and devious talk. It’s a reminder to be mindful of the words we speak and the conversations we engage in. Our speech should align with the wisdom we seek, reflecting a heart centered on God.

The call to “look directly forward” and “gaze straight ahead” suggests a deliberate choice to fix our attention on God’s path. It’s an encouragement to resist the distractions that might lead us astray.

In our daily lives, distractions often come in the form of responsibilities, obligations, and urgent matters. These are not inherently bad, but when we lose sight of God’s wisdom in the midst of them, they can consume our focus. The key is to bring these aspects of life onto the path with us, keeping our eyes on God.

The ultimate message is clear: the purpose of our lives is not found in the stuff of earthly concerns. Rather, it is centered on our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face,” and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

So, let’s reflect on where our focus lies today. What captures our attention and shapes our purpose? May we intentionally fix our gaze on God’s wisdom, allowing it to guide our hearts and paths.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through Proverbs. Tomorrow, we’ll explore chapters 5, 6, and 7 together. Have a fantastic day!