The Issues of Life Out of the Heart
W. Arnot, D. D. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. First the fountain, then the streams; first the heart, and then the life-course. The issues of life are manifold; three of their main channels are mapped out here — the "lips," the "eyes," and the "feet." The corruption of the heart, the pollution of the spring-head, where all life's currents rise, is a very frequent topic in the Scriptures. The precept, "Keep thy heart with all diligence," sounds very like some of the sayings of Jesus. He said, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries." Therefore keep with all diligence that prolific spring. Here, as in all other cases, prayer and pains must go together. "Keep it with all keeping" is the precise statement. Leave no means untried. Out of our own conduct will we be condemned if we do not effectually keep our own hearts. We keep other things with success as often as we set about it in earnest. In other keepings man is skilful and powerful too, but in keeping his own heart, unstable as water, he does not excel. Keep it from getting evil, as a garden is kept: keep it from doing evil, as the sea is kept at bay from reclaimed netherlands. 1. The first of the three streams marked on this map as issuing from an ill-kept heart is "a froward mouth." Words form the first and readiest egress for evil. The power of speech is one of the grand peculiarities which distinguish man. A vain, biting, untruthful, polluted, profane tongue cannot be in the family of God when the family are at home in their Father's presence. The evil must be put away; the tongue must be cleansed; and now is the day for such exercises. 2. The next outlet from the fountain is by the "eyes." Let the heart's aim be simple and righteous. No secret longings and side-glances after forbidden things, no crooked by-ends and hypocritical pretences. When the eye is single the whole body will be full of light. Straightforwardness is the fairest jewel of our commercial crown. 3. The last of these issues is by the "feet." Ponder, therefore, thy path. The best time to ponder any path is not at the end, not even at the middle, but at the beginning of it. The right place for weighing the worth of any course is on this side of its beginning. Those who ponder after they have entered it are not in a position either to obtain the truth or to profit by it. The injunction applies to every step in life, small or great. The value of weighing anything depends all on the justness of the balance and the weights. By the Word of God paths and actions will be weighed in the judgment. By the Word of God, therefore, let paths and actions, great and small, be pondered now. (W. Arnot, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. WEB: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.