A Heart of Wisdom

Introduction

- Illustration- Eliana- “you need to change your heart”- shocked look

o The word “heart” can be used to mean a lot of different things in our culture today- the organ in our chest that keeps us alive, the shape (that looks nothing like an actual heart), the thing that is broken when a relationship doesn’t work out, the center of something, the effort we give something “that kid has a lot of heart!”

o Things weren’t so different during the time that the wisdom books were written. Even up through the New Testament, we see the word for heart, cardia, used in many ways

- In Proverbs 4:23 Solomon tells us “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

o Solomon understood the importance of a right heart, and he knew the powerful influence that constantly pull our hearts away from God

o 1 Kings 11:4- When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.

o If Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, struggled with keeping his heart right before God, then what hope do we have?

- Our hearts are inclined to pursue our own way, but through the regenerating power of the gospel, our hearts can be transformed, and we can pursue righteous and wise living

- This morning I want to begin by briefly defining the heart so we know what we are talking about, then look at the characteristics and consequences of a heart gone astray, and finally see our hope of a transformed heart through the power of the gospel.

The Heart Defined

A. The seat of life, the soul

1. Our physical heart gives us life and is often used to represent life itself

2. Psalm 22:26 The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lordwill praise him. May your hearts live forever!

3. Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

B. Inner man, mind, will, conscience

1. Last week we talked about the importance of our minds, renewing our minds- the word for heart is often used to convey this same idea

2. Will- Exodus 7:13- However, Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

3. Inner being- Psalm 73:21 (NASB)- When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within,

4. Conscience- 2 Cor. 3:2-3 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.,

C. The seat of the senses, affections, emotions

1. “heartsick” “brokenhearted”

2. Judges 16:15- Delilah- How can you say, ‘I love you,’ ” she told him, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and not told me what makes your strength so great!”

3. Deut. 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

4. Psalm 104:15 wine that makes human hearts glad—making his face shine with oil—and bread that sustains human hearts.

5. Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!”

The Path of the Heart

A. There are ultimately just two paths for our hearts- I know, not many options

1. Not political parties

2. V.2- right or left, wisdom or folly, righteousness or corruption

B. Solomon has laid out the argument in this book and in Proverbs, we want to pursue wisdom

1. V.1- folly corrupts

2. Fish water in the cooler

C. We try to mask our hearts from others

1. We know how to look, what to say, just enough to create the right perception

2. 1 Sam. 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lordsees the heart.”

3. This world has placed a high priority on what is visible (social media, appearance, public opinion), so much so that many us, many Christians, are drawn into playing this game

4. As much as we try to hide it- our actions, our decisions, our path, broadcasts our hearts for everyone to see (v.3)

A Foolish Heart

A. Authority/leadership- Foolish ruler (4-7, 15-20)

1. Lacks self-control- (4)

2. Promotes injustice (6-7)

3. Overindulgence and laziness (16-18)

4. Where has God called you to lead? What kind of leader are you?

B. Work- Foolish workers (8-11, 11:1-6)

1. Neglecting wisdom- missed opportunities

a. God has given us wisdom- use it

b. Priority on self

c. Illustration- Dull vs. sharp ax- not the sharpest tool in the shed

2. Laziness (18)

3. Work for the glory of God

a. Trust that God will provide

(1) Cast your bread on the waters

(2) Diversify- don’t just sit back and say, “it’s all in God’s hands” while you do nothing. Use the wisdom God has given you

b. Work diligently (11:6)

- Not only do we see the foolish heart in the way that we lead, in the way that we work, but we also see it in the way that we speak

C. Speech- Foolish talkers (12-14)

1. The power of words

2. The danger of things said in secret (v.20)- “a little birdie told me”

a. Watch what you say in public (we know this), but also in private

3. Fools talk a lot

a. Big talkers but they never back it up

b. We have all met people that love to talk about themselves

c. We all have a tendency toward foolish speech- but Solomon gives us wise advise from broadcasting the foolishness of our hearts to everyone around us- think more, speak less

The Heart Judged (11:7-10)

A. And God knows our hearts even better than we do

1. We try to mask our hearts from others

a. We read earlier- 1 Sam. 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lordsees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

b. This world has placed a high importance on what is visible (social media, appearance, public opinion), so much so that many are drawn into playing this game

B. The reality of judgment should guide all our actions, thoughts, desires, and emotions- all that the heart is

1. “Follow your heart”- enjoy life

a. 11:9

2. but know we will be held accountable for what we do

a. Illustration- noticing the ring doorbell

b. Many live as if this isn't true

(2) Our culture is filled with people who want to live their own way without any consequences

(3) They want wealth without work, to borrow without debt, relationships without commitment, sex without children, and the list could go on

(4) But this grave description isn’t just true about the culture out there, if we are honest with ourselves, we find these inclinations in our own hearts

C. But as much as we want a right heart, we face an insurmountable problem -

1. Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable- who can understand it? I, the Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart,to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.

2. Isa. 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way;

- Where have you failed? Where have you chosen the left over the right? Where have you chosen the way of the fool?

The Heart Transformed

- V.10- remove sorrow from your heart and pain from your flesh- this seems like an impossibility given the condition of our hearts- but there is hope!

A. Our only hope of a renewed heart is through Jesus

1. Isa. 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.

B. God, in his grace and mercy, has given us a new heart

1. Ezekiel 11:19-21 I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, 20 so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God

2. Eph. 4:17-24 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.

20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off,your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on, the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

C. We must continually cry out for his grace in our lives

1. Psalm 51:10- Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me

- Conclusion

o Our hearts are inclined to pursue our own way, but through the regenerating power of the Gospel, our hearts can be transformed, and we can pursue righteous and wise living- only through the power of God that is within us

o This is our hope