The Springs of Life

Proverbs 4 is all about life. Finding life. The springs of life. And Jesus Christ came to give us life. In the gospel of John Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). And Jesus is life. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). And all of the promises of God find their fulfillment in Him, for as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory (2 Cor. 1:20). In Jesus are the springs of life and Proverbs 4 give us a strategy for gospel renewal and for finding the springs of life. The right strategy consists of three things in this text. First is the right beginning, which is to begin with belonging. It is interesting here that not only is the father teaching his sons but he is sharing them about how his father (their grandfather) taught him. The springs of life are rooted in tradition, the tradition of the faith passed down through the covenant family. Second, is the right path. We must progress on the path. And here two ways or two paths are laid out for us: the way of wisdom and the way of evil. There is no third option. And lastly, we must fix our focus. We must have the right focus. Verse 23 tells us to keep our hearts with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.

The springs of life are found only in the love of Jesus Christ as seen in the gospel. Dan Allender, in his book Bold Love, asks the question, “What is love? What is the nature of this thing called love that we are required to mirror in our relationships with others and even in our relationship with God? The meaning of love is found in the person Jesus Christ and incarnated with definition and meaning by His death and resurrection.” (pp.31-32). We are instructed to keep or guard our heart because the issues of life move from the inside out, not the other way around. Thus, the focus of our hearts must be on the love of Jesus Christ as defined by the gospel. Fix your hearts on the right focus.