Real Value

Notice what we are being taught here; three times the word heart is mentioned in this chapter

I. A Heart That Retains

Proverbs 4:4- He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

The teaching of the Father is not to be taken lightly. What He teaches is to retained

RETAIN: To hold or keep in possession; not to lose or part with or dismiss.

This retaining is to be with purpose I am to hold, keep in possession God's Word along with His commands so that I will know how to live

II. A Heart That Keeps

Proverbs 4:21- Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

MIDST: in the middle.

Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart. When something is in the middle it's there for protection. Do I value God's teaching, His Word, His Commandments? If so then I have them in the middle of my heart in other word I have put much value on them. I, to many times confuse value. What is "value?"  Value is not always gold, precious stone, silver but value is anything I place great worth in. What I value may be to some one else worthless. When thieves break into a secure place they take that which has earthly value, something they can sell and get cash for. They will not take that picture drawn by a child when they were in the first grade. But to the parent of that child that picture has great value it's priceless. Value of God's Word, God's Commandments are places into my heart as I look into the middle of my heart what values have I placed there for safe keeping

III. A Heart That's Diligent

Proverbs 4:23- Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life

 DILIGENCE: without unnecessary delay.

Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Our enemy wants to destroy me. He, want's what is dear to me, what's in my heart, what I'm retaining, what I place real value on. If he can accomplish keeping me away from God Word, wreck my time of prayer, destroy my relationships he will destroy my hearts values therefore destroying me

     1- But David says our ways can be clean:

Psalms 119:9- Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word

     2- We can have protection from wandering:

Psalms 119:10- With my whole heart have I sought thee

O let me not wander from thy commandments.

     3- Know the Plan:

Psalms 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

There it is Hid God's Word in The Middle of My Heart! If The Word of God is not Valuable to me then I want take the time to keep it safe within me.