“My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.”

 

Proverbs 4:20-27

I woke up this morning with a terrible crick in my neck. As I drove, turning to look to see if the road was clear, I felt the pain of turning to see if danger was approaching. I was reminded of the Bible verse in Proverbs four, to not swerve to the right or the left, turning your feet from evil. Keeping our focus on our own path, keeps us from seeing things that will distract. God tells us to keep our eyes straight, staying focused on Him. In doing this, we find our hearts at peace and not seeking after the things of this world that only result in short lived pleasure.

Fixing Your Gaze

When I think about the phrase, fix your gaze, I think of driving looking ahead at the road. Looking straight ahead, I can see anything that may cause us to have an accident. If I am looking around at the things that are close to me, I may miss the danger ahead. Because my focus is not set, fixated on where it should be to travel safely, could lead to an accident for myself but also for those in my care. It is a sobering reminder that our actions not only affect us, but our families, neighbors and outsiders as well. Earlier in chapter four, God tells us to guard our hearts because our heart’s desires can easily sway us towards things or people that are not good for us. Thankfully God gives us a plan of how to follow Him and stay safe.

Level Paths

God says to look straight, make level paths, do not take paths that are unstable, things that are not sound or beneficial. When presented with something that does not sound correct, most often, it is not. In Genesis, Lot’s wife was told not to look back and when she did was turned into a pillar of salt. She was not looking back to see the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but looking back longingly at her home. She was not focused on the promises ahead. Her gaze was not fixated on the safety of a new home far from evil, but on the home she was leaving behind. Her heart was drawn to the things of the world and not to the things of God. Her eyes were not set on the path ahead, they were drawn away to see the devastation of those who did not seek the Lord and she soon found herself with them. When presented with opportunities, which may not all be bad, let us first present them to God and see if they are things He would have us to pursue. If they are not things that God has placed on our path, then He reminds us to stay focused on Him. Trusting God with our placement is the path to wisdom, and they are life to those who pay attention.