When serving God in Pakistan, I enjoyed reading some good books and often quoted from these in my journal. On one occasion I was reading ‘Ordering Your Private World’ by Gordon MacDonald (Dar El Kalema Publishing House, 2010). What I quoted was relevant to a verse from Proverbs 4 and it is verse 23: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Below is a direct quote from my journal at the time:
“One book I am reading is ‘Ordering Your Private World by Gordan MacDonald and here are a few quotes from this book:
‘If our private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity’
The author speaks of the need to see ourselves as ‘living in two different worlds. Our outer or public world is easier to deal with. It is much more measurable, visible and expandable…work, play, possessions…a host of acquaintances…easiest to evaluate in terms of success, popularity, wealth and beauty.
But our inner world is more spiritual in nature. Here is a center in which choices and values can be determined, where solitude and reflection can be pursued…worship and confession…a quiet spot where the moral and spiritual pollution of the times need not penetrate.’
MacDonald quoted from Oscar Wilde ‘who paid scant attention to his private world’. He confessed, ‘…I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease…I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character…I allowed pleasure to dominate me…I ended in horrible disgrace.’
The author adds, ‘I believe that one of the great battlegrounds of our age is the private world of the individual… [there are many people, including Christians, who] although their actions are worthwhile and very unlike those of Wilde, like him they become too public world oriented, ignoring the private side until it is almost too late.’
He quotes a man writing to his daughter concerning the kind of man she should choose to marry. He writes, ‘…regard the honour and moral character of the man, more than all other circumstances. Think of no other greatness but that of the soul, no other riches but those of the heart.’
MacDonald also says:
‘One writer of Proverbs put the principles of the inner world in these words:
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:25).
He sees the heart as a spring and suggests that out of it can flow the energy, the insight, and the force that does not succumb to outer turbulence but rather overcomes it. Keep the heart, he says, and it will become a wellspring of life from which you and others can drink.
But what does it mean to “keep the heart’? For one thing, the writer is obviously concerned that the heart be protected from influences outside itself that might jeopardize its integrity. The writer is also concerned about the strength and development of the heart in order to increase its capacity to bring order to one’s life.
But even behind these possible lessons from the metaphor is the fact that keeping or guarding the heart…is a deliberate and disciplined choice a man or woman must make. We must choose to keep the heart. Its health and productivity cannot be assumed, it must be constantly protected and maintained…there must be a quiet place where all is in order, a place from which comes the energy that overcomes turbulence and is not intimidated by it.’
[I then added] Sadly, at some stage (I think after writing this book), it seems that MacDonald ignored his own advice, forgot to guard his heart, and had a moral collapse. Thankfully he was able to sort things out with those involved and graciously, God restored him. He later wrote the book ‘Restoring Your Spiritual Passion.’”
And so, the wise advice continues in Proverbs:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Great advice, but sadly, as MacDonald discovered, at times the ‘outer world of activity’ dominates our thinking and then our actions and we fail to take heed of this advice and fail. Thank God for His grace and that we can come and confess our sin and be forgiven (1John 1:9)
Paul writes:
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:9-11)
So, my friend, above all else, guard your heart!
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 