Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 WEB

King Solomon’s words about the wellspring of life encourage us to maintain our hearts with self-control and diligence in keeping with the good things of God. The heart is the source of our attitudes and behaviors. When we focus on good things, we tend to perform good deeds. When we give our hearts to desires of the flesh and corruption, we accumulate the wages of sin which the bible teaches is death.

Christ teaches the value of keeping our hearts pure as our hearts are the source of many sins and sorrows. Lust, for example, leads to sinful acts that bring guilt and shame in exchange for temporary pleasure. As Christ says in Matthew 5:28, “but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. WEB”

For better or for worse, our hearts are the wellspring of life. Out of our innermost thoughts and feelings flow the issues of our existence. When Solomon’s father, David, committed adultery with Bathsheba his sin arose from the lust of his heart. Upon the realization of Bathsheba’s pregnancy that resulted from the affair, David attempted to conceal his sinful act with another sin. He created a plan to have Bathsheba’s husband killed in battle to cover his adultery and keep Bathsheba for himself. 

Create in Me a Clean Heart

The first son born to them died soon after birth. Solomon was born after from this same union. The guilt and shame of David’s behavior plagued him for the rest of his life. Understanding that his sin originated in his heart, David wrote in Psalm 51:10-11, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. WEB” After, David promised to use this painful experience to call sinners like himself to repentance. 

Jesus teaches in Luke 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. WEB” Whatever we do, our actions come secondary to the content held in our hearts. For this reason, we do well to follow the advice of Solomon and keep our hearts will all diligence. Truly, our hearts are the wellspring of life.

Yesterday’s Devotional: A Man Under Authority