BE CAREFUL

Introduction

At a clearance sale, the wife of a federal district court judge found a green tie that was a perfect match for one of her husband's sports jackets. Soon after, while the couple was vacationing at a resort complex to get his mind off a rather complicated cocaine conspiracy case, he noticed a small, round disc sewn into the design of the tie. The judge showed it to a local FBI agent, who was equally suspicious that it might be a bug planted by the conspiracy defendants. The agent sent the device to FBI headquarters In Washington, D.C., for analysis. Two weeks later, the judge phoned the Washington office to learn the results of their tests. "We're not sure where the disc came from," the FBI told him, "but we discovered that when you press it, it plays Jingle Bells."

Proverbs 4:23–27 KJV

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Watch Where You Are Going

A. Exercise Self-Discipline

Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

1. The Disciplined Heart

Proverbs 4:23 KJV

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The heart must be guarded more zealously than anything else – not protected as much as governed lest it bring forth something inappropriate.

Diligence – more than anything else.

Guard – means to be careful in your speech – therein is a man’s wealth, let your lips be precious. Be circumspect – be careful about the thoughts you express, don’t run off at the mouth.

Wisdom locks up one’s heart so that he can control his tongue – have discretion in speech – transitions to next verse. Life proceeds from the heart – it is the source.

2. The Disciplined Mouth

** Verse 24 – perverse = deceit – one should not be stubborn with one’s mouth – duplicity or speaking out of both sides.

** Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have been able to conquer an empire, but I have not been able to conquer myself."

3. The Disciplined Look

Proverbs 4:25 KJV

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

look straight ahead – temptations on both sides. Don’t even glance at them – no sidelong looks. 6:13; 10:10; 16:30.

4. The Disciplined Walk

Proverbs 4:26–27 KJV

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

make the path at your foot level – establish the proper path. Consider carefully where you are going and be sure to go straight.

“One’s life course, as understood here, is not laid out in advance; rather, one must level and pave it himself as he moves along, removing obstacles to moral progress.”

Verse 27 – no swerving – stay straight – teaching us to choose a path early in life and if you’ve chosen correctly, stick to it. The path of wisdom is an extreme itself – far removed from the path of foolishness.

so to watch where we are going we need to exercise self discipline

B. Don’t be Gullible

Illus: A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmist practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide." And for plenty of good reasons, since it: · Can cause excessive sweating and vomiting.  · It is a major component in acid rain.  · It can cause severe burns in its gaseous state.  · Accidental inhalation can kill you.  · It decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.  · It has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients.  He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was H20 (water). The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?" He feels the conclusion is obvious.

Facebook has done wonders for revealing how gullible people are.

Proverbs 14:15 KJV

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

1) Simple – the inexperienced, the gullible, simpleton. This is a moral flaw – a choice (1:4)

Proverbs 18:17 KJV

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

hear both sides before reaching a decision – don’t just listen to one without hearing a counter argument to it. Search it out!

Proverbs 29:5 KJV

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

be careful of flattery – with 2:16 – smooth words

So in watching where we are going, we need to make sure that we are not being gullible.

C. Think Before You Act

Proverbs 13:16 KJV

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

act thoughtfully, not on impulse.

Proverbs 14:8 KJV

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

self-aware; assess own behavior and realize where it will lead; think before acting.

Proverbs 21:29 KJV

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

wicked man is bold in putting on a front to conceal a lie – the honest man can perceive the deception and expose it. The wise man can listen and realize what is happening – he understands his way and the way of the deceiver.

To watch where you are going you must think before you act.

D. Develop Foresight

Hudson Taylor – Fear is the mother of foresight.

Proverbs 22:3 KJV

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 22:5 KJV

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

Something bad going on, namely, a conflict – getting involved in brawls and arguments – avoid others’ quarrels – or you will get punished in legal proceedings, investigation, etc. Thorns temporarily hurt, snares can kill.

E. Evaluate the Consequences

Proverbs 21:12 KJV

12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

the righteous/wise man knows the consequences of a wicked life – he knows that God’s judgment will come. He knows the wicked will be overthrown.

Proverbs 24:30–32 KJV

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Observing sinful behavior – laziness here. But really focus on v. 32 – received instruction = learned a lesson. Teaching that helps us to avoid faults or problem – corrective.

To watch where you are going you must exercise self-discipline, not be gullible, you must think before you act, develop foresight, and evaluate the consequences.

Now let’s look at part 2

Watch What You Are Doing

Let’s look at this point by asking three questions to evaluate Caution in our life.

A. Are You Doing too Much?

Haste makes waste

Proverbs 19:2 KJV

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

desires ungoverned by good sense propel one to rush in pursuit of their fulfillment – the frenetic pursuit of wealth is likely to lead to sin – straining too hard to get what one wants, overconfidence in one’s own power. Hurry about with a lack of knowledge – running around aimlessly.

“A weakness of all human beings, “ Henry Ford said, “is trying to do too many things at once. That scatters effort and destroys direction. It makes for haste, and haste makes waste. So we do things all the wrong ways possible before we come to the right one.”

Proverbs 21:5 KJV

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

reasonable diligence is profitable – excessive hurrying to get rich shows greed – desire for more than naturally given – self-defeating – makes a mess of things.

B. Are you Overreacting?

prov 12:16

Proverbs 12:16 KJV

16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

advocates restraint, honesty, and gentleness. The smart man swallows his pride and conceals an insult he has suffered.

Proverbs 14:17 KJV

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:29 KJV

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

short-tempered man acts on impulse; a hothead; in v. 29 – an intelligent, learned person may seem to be wise, but if he is impatient and irritable he will soon prove to be a fool – may not be inherently a fool, but his rashness and anger puts him in danger.

Frederick Buechner

Of the 7 deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.

C. Are you Jumping to Conclusions?

Proverbs 18:13 KJV

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

interrupting another person makes one look like a disgraceful fool – listen and think before responding.

Proverbs 25:8–10 KJV

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

don’t be quick to argue because it may bring insults – if you do argue don’t say something hurtful – preserve secrets, don’t violate someone’s confidence. Respecting another’s privacy is not a favor; it is a moral obligation.

Proverbs 15:28 KJV

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

thoughtful responses – characteristic of the righteous.

Implement Caution (guard your heart; don’t be gullible; think before you act; have foresight; evaluate the consequences; don’t be so hasty; watch your temper and don’t jump to conclusions).

All those listed last if done wrongly are characteristics of the fool!