Solomon was inspired to write such great wisdom. Pay attention…listen carefully, don’t lose sight…guard your heart, avoid perverse talk and stay away from corrupt speech. This was as good advice in about 950 BC as it is today. Things have changed so much technologically, yet wisdom and common sense haven’t changed in all these years. Pay attention to what Solomon said. He goes on to write Ecclesiastes which concludes that although life is vanity, it is to be enjoyed. In Proverbs, Solomon advises his son how to live this life in a way that is profitable and pleasing to the Lord. Listen carefully.
When
was the last time that you told someone to listen carefully? If you have
small children or grandchildren you might have said this recently to them. I
listed a few scriptures passages yesterday that mentioned listening carefully.
It is a recurrent theme with God. He is always listening to us…and He wants us
to listen carefully to what He says…to what He has said throughout history to
guide and direct mankind. He speaks mainly to the Israelites, His chosen
people, but He also speaks directly to individuals like Daniel. Listen carefully.
He is still speaking to you and me. I think He not only wants us to hear,
but He wants us to apply His words to our lives and pass on His Good News. We
have to hear it first…act on it, by repenting and turning to Him, and then to follow Jesus last words. 
Listen Carefully.
Don't touch the prickly pear cactus.
Let God's words fill your life...and touch your heart.
Therefore, go and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given
you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the
age." Matthew
28:19-20
To teach,
someone has got to be listening carefully. Then they can hear the words of
Jesus…obey all the commands I have given you. Listen and obey. It began
with Abraham who listened and obeyed when God told him to leave his homeland.
The LORD had said to Abram,
"Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and
go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I
will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I
will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All
the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3
God
changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He wasn’t perfect…and made mistakes along the
way that mankind is still living with, but basically Abraham became a friend of
God and was blessed to be the father of great nations, including Israel. He listened and
obeyed. Can we do the same? Our obedience can include following the advice of
Solomon: guard your heart…by avoiding all perverse talk and corrupt
speech. By paying attention to what God says, we please Him. That is the
best thing we could ever do. God wants to have a relationship with each of us.
How can we do that if we allow corruption in our hearts, minds, or speech? I
try to watch what I say and with whom I speak so that I’m surrounding myself
with positive, like-minded people and not influenced by someone who is unethical
or immoral. Teach your children and grandchildren the importance of choosing
their friends wisely and hope that they listen carefully to your wise
words.
My
child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't
lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring
life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart
above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse
talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on
what lies before? you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe
path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
Prayer
– Hello today, God. It is always such a pleasure to speak with You. I respect
You…and Solomon for the wise words I’ve been reading in that book. The Bible is
filled with timely good advice. Thank you for giving the world this importance
guidance. Help me not only to apply it to my life—to live it—but to also to
share it with others. You, Jesus, are the way, the truth, and the life—and give
us wisdom by which to live.
Meditate.
Read God’s word and listen carefully to what He is saying.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Who is among you who fears the LORD, Who obeys the voice of His
Servant, Yet who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust and be
confident in the name of the LORD and let him rely on his God. Listen
carefully, all you who kindle your own fire [devising your own man-made plan of
salvation], Who surround yourselves with torches, Walk by the light of your
[self-made] fire And among the torches that you have set ablaze. But this you
will have from My hand: You will lie down in [a place of] torment. Isaiah 50:10-11 AMP
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
All rights reserved.
Scripture
quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),
Copyright ©2015 by
The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Biblical
search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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