“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.” (Proverbs 4:20-21)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
My children, listen to my words of wisdom and live them out. Make them part of who you are by thinking about and meditating on them. In this way, these wise godly ways of life will become yours in what you watch, say, think, and do. Remember most of all to guard your heart, for from what flows out of it in action and word shows if you are living according to God and His wisdom, about which I taught you. [paraphrase]
Attending to someone’s words is more than acknowledging him speaking, more than hearing him speak, and more than listening to what he says. Attending is listening, meditating on, understanding, and then acting upon what is taught. Inaction to what is taught is action. It’s refusal to believe and obey the person’s wisdom and teaching.
Keeping a person’s words in one’s heart is part of attending. It’s a pondering on it, guarding that lesson as important, and acting upon it. Keeping a person’s words changes one’s life. In this passage, the person speaking was Solomon, the one to whom God granted wisdom as his gift. Keeping Solomon’s teachings—his words—can be considered equal to keeping God’s words because wisdom comes from God.
Keeping God’s words is guarding them in your heart so that lies cannot change your mind, heart, and actions. Keeping God’s words protects you from evil. They remind you of what is good (from God) and what is evil. They protect your mind and the people you teach and help. They protect your heart so that your spirit is not confused and put into chaos. God’s words keep you connected to Him through His Spirit living in you, a believer in Christ.
How can you hear, listen, and know God’s words, His wisdom? By reading, studying, and meditating on what you read in the Bible every day. By listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching. By praying and fellowshipping with other believers.
Are you attending to and keeping God’s words? In what way are you slacking off in your relationship with Him—praying, reading and studying His word, worshipping Him, listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching? It’s never too late to return to God and to hear, listen to, keep, and do what He says. Right now, take the time to pray to God and return to Him.
