August
6, 2003
AS
HE THINKS IN HIS HEART,
SO IS HE
"For
as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7,
NKJV).
What
we think about is critically important. "For as he thinks
in his heart, so is he." What is it that you think about?
What do you admire? On what do you dwell? How do you spend
your free time? A friend of mine suggested the following formula.
Time + Focus of Attention = Character. This is so true.
Solomon
added the following counsel to the verse above. "Apply
your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge...
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the
fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter,
and your hope will not be cut off... Buy the truth, and do
not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding"
(Proverbs 23:12, 17, 18, 23).
Jeremiah
provided counsel for those who believed their own wisdom to
be superior to that of the Lord. "Hear, O earth: behold,
I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their
thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor
to my law, but rejected it" (Jeremiah 6:19).
Solomon
shared a similar warning from the Lord, "Then they will
call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently,
but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and
did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none
of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they
shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the
full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple
will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy
them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will
be secure, without fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:28-33).
"My
son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within
you, that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart
to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and
lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will
understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of
God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge
and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the
paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then
you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and
every good path" (Proverbs 2:1-9).
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