“Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny!”
How do we stay informed about all that is happening in our society nationally and locally? For most of us it is by the news we see on television or what we see and read on the internet. Since early March the news has been focused on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Most recently the focus of the news has been about racial social injustice and the protests and violence that usu- ally accompanies the outcry of those wanting to bring attention and change to the issue.
Because of what is being broadcasted, some Christians have chosen not to watch the news on television or even video clips on the internet because it upsets them emotionally, causing them to become disgusted and angry or even fearful. They recognize that what they are watching influences them in ways that are not spiri- tually healthy or beneficial.
As Christians living in an ever-changing world that does not function with regard to Biblical moral standards, we continually must be aware of what we are feeding our souls with what we watch, read and hear and its effect on our souls. Yes, it is impor- tant to be informed with what is happening around us. Being ignorant, ill-informed or even naive about what is happening in our world around us can be not good and even dangerous.
No matter how long we have been a Christian, we all must be very careful to listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice when He is speak- ing to us concerning what we are exposing ourselves to. Jesus spoke to us very clearly about what we expose ourselves to by what we see. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
The Fire Bible commentary gives us the following application concerning these two verses. “Our eyes are like lenses that flash images onto our minds–like film in a camera–leaving a graphic im- pression on our thoughts and memories. If we look at ungodly and impure images, they will cloud and corrupt our minds so that we will not be able to see what God has for us or where he wants to guide us. Yet, if we choose to expose ourselves to good and whole- some things, the Lord will continue to give us spiritual light and truth to our minds and guide us down the right paths for our lives.”
“Above” all else, guard your heart, for it is the well- spring of life.”, Proverbs 4:23. This verse was written thousands of years ago, but do we realize how it applies to our lives today and how it relates to what we see on television or see and or read on the internet?
Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “a) Above all else, b) guard your heart, c) for it is the wellspring of life.” This verse naturally has three divisions, the first one is;“
a) “Above all else…” or in other words it means, more so than anything else or, what is going to be said is the most impor- tant point.
b) “guard your heart”. Guard as a sentry, to protect, be vigilant, be attentive. We always guard or protect what we consider valuable. We are never careless or inconsiderate for something which we consider valuable. We lock and have alarms on our houses and cars. We keep our important valuables and documents in a safe or in a safety deposit box at a bank. We have usernames, passcodes and passwords to access our cell phones and internet accounts. We have antivirus software on our computers. But what about our hearts? Why do our hearts need to be guarded and guarded from what or whom? We need to guard our hearts because they are vulnerable to the enemy of our souls who wants to gain access to our hearts to spiritually and emotionally harm us through the many things we expose ourselves to with what we read and or watch.
c) “for it (our heart or soul) is the wellspring of life”. Wellspring is the bountiful ever or flowing source of our lives. If what flows into our hearts is contaminated or polluted, our thoughts, words, and lives will reflect that. This is the reason we need to guard our souls by listening to the Holy Spirit and living by God’s Biblical standards.
The Fire Study Bible explains it this way. “The heart repre- sents the center of our being–the source of desire and decision. We must not allow anything to come into or flow out of our hearts that is not pleasing to God and helpful for spiritual growth. So, we “guard” what we watch, listen to, read, think about and talk about. All of those senses are ways that images and ideas root themselves in our hearts and affect the type of people we be- come.”
How do we protect our heart? One way the Bible teaches us to protect ourselves from an “unclean” heart is what Psalm 119:11 tells us. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
I am sure you have noticed the dramatic increase of anger, hatred, and violence that is being displayed in the many formats of the media today. This might include many topics such as the social precautions we need to observe because of COVID-19, such as wearing or refusing to wear a face masks in public. This also can include the public outcry to the many social issues that are being spotlighted or being given special importance in the media today. As mentioned previously, for some Christians watching, listening and or reading about these matters can cause fear, anxiety, anger and even hatred. What guidance do we have and practices we can do that God’s Word teaches us which not only encourages us but even helps us to confront the many different ways we can nega- tively be affected by what is happening all around us in society to- day?
The apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8-9 gives us two impor- tant points of what we can do to not be affected or influenced by the world and to help us overcome all that the enemy of our souls would want to seed in our hearts with. First, the end of verse eight tells us “think about such things”, or in other words these are the things that we should be thinking about. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
– “whatever is true” – If we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the truth of God’s word, we will not be susceptible to believe the lies of the enemy which causes fear, anxiety, anger and even hatred.
– “whatever is noble, whatever is right” – Are our thoughts focused on and are we giving our attention to all that is worthy of admiration and what is correct by God’s Biblical standards? “This does not mean we hide our heads in the sand and avoid what is unpleasant and displeasing, but it does mean we do not focus our attention on dishonorable things and permit them to control our thoughts.”
– “whatever is pure” or morally pure according to God’s never changing Biblical standard. For example, this is contrary to today’s thinking about sexuality and sexual purity.
– “whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” – beautiful, attractive and worth talking about. This is contrary to gross, vulgar and obscene topics that the heart with out God are attracted to and likes to vocalize.
– “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” – What is it we are sharing with others about in relation to what you saw or read? “Will motivate others to do better? Is it something to give praise to? Is it worth commenting to others. Or does it criticize and belittle instead of up lift and encourage?
– “think about such things” – Remember, when we are exposing ourselves or thinking about good things, that is what will be stored up in our hearts. And that is what others will hear and experience about us. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45.
Verse nine refers to the way we live or the standards we live by. Whose standards are governing our lives? And is our lifestyles and our words exemplifying a Biblical moral mindset? A Christian cannot separate inward attitude from outward action. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Warren Wiersbe clearly explains verse nine which also applies to our living in the cultural situation of today.
“Paul balances four activities: “learned” and “received” and “heard” and “seen”. It is one thing to learn a truth, but quite another to receive it inwardly and make it a part of our inner man. Facts in the head are not enough; we must also have truths in the heart. In Paul’s ministry, he not only taught the Word but also lived it so that His listeners could see the truth in his life.”
Pastor John
