1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,320 I’ve chosen a verse of scripture that very obviously speaks to us on this special day in the year 2 00:00:06,320 –> 00:00:08,660 And it’s in the passage that’s just been read to us 3 00:00:09,320 –> 00:00:17,020 proverbs chapter 23 and the last verse read verse 26 my son give me your heart and 4 00:00:17,940 –> 00:00:19,940 Let your eyes observe 5 00:00:21,059 –> 00:00:23,059 my ways as 6 00:00:23,540 –> 00:00:28,299 I’ve reflected on these words and also the verses that were read that come before them 7 00:00:28,299 –> 00:00:30,980 I have found them to be so rich that 8 00:00:31,240 –> 00:00:36,840 I want us to stay here in the same passage of scripture for two weeks this week and 9 00:00:37,639 –> 00:00:44,360 Also next Sunday so there’s a changed title today. We’re going to look at how the heart goes wrong and 10 00:00:45,360 –> 00:00:49,919 Next week. We’re going to look at how the heart is set right both from these verses 11 00:00:50,360 –> 00:00:54,959 That are before us today in Proverbs and chapter 23 12 00:00:55,799 –> 00:00:58,639 Now what we have in this verse that’s before us today 13 00:00:58,639 –> 00:01:05,900 Then is obviously a father speaking to his son my son give me your heart 14 00:01:06,779 –> 00:01:11,680 It could of course equally well be a father speaking to his daughter 15 00:01:12,500 –> 00:01:18,019 or it could be a mother speaking to a daughter or a mother speaking to a son so we can 16 00:01:18,139 –> 00:01:24,839 Hear these words in all of these ways in their different applications to each of us 17 00:01:25,580 –> 00:01:27,339 but in this case 18 00:01:27,339 –> 00:01:30,559 That is before us today in Proverbs chapter 23 19 00:01:30,559 –> 00:01:36,839 It is a father who is speaking to his son and he says my son 20 00:01:37,239 –> 00:01:39,239 give me your 21 00:01:39,739 –> 00:01:40,779 heart 22 00:01:40,779 –> 00:01:46,720 And I want over these two weeks then for us to hear these words first in the voice of a father 23 00:01:47,000 –> 00:01:49,320 Speaking to his son or to his daughter 24 00:01:49,480 –> 00:01:54,860 And then I want us to hear these words in the voice of God our heavenly father 25 00:01:55,639 –> 00:01:57,639 speaking to us 26 00:01:58,440 –> 00:02:02,099 Now let’s begin here with the question who then is the father? 27 00:02:03,519 –> 00:02:09,539 Most of the proverbs as many of you know are credited to Solomon the son of King David 28 00:02:10,080 –> 00:02:13,960 Who was given a very special gift of wisdom from the Lord? 29 00:02:14,440 –> 00:02:18,320 There are a few Proverbs towards the end of the book that are by other 30 00:02:18,759 –> 00:02:24,380 authors a king Lemuel and a man by the name of a Gurr, but most of the 31 00:02:25,000 –> 00:02:29,259 Proverbs were either written by or collected by King Solomon 32 00:02:29,320 –> 00:02:34,679 And how appropriate that he should be the one to do this because he was given particular wisdom 33 00:02:34,699 –> 00:02:40,360 And this book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom for our lives 34 00:02:41,279 –> 00:02:44,360 So Solomon was the father who is the son 35 00:02:46,039 –> 00:02:51,360 Now Solomon, of course was infamous for having had many wives and 36 00:02:52,039 –> 00:02:59,679 so we must assume that over the course of his life he had many sons and daughters as well, but 37 00:03:00,660 –> 00:03:02,660 Here’s a kind of Bible Trivia question 38 00:03:04,240 –> 00:03:07,500 How many children of Solomon are named in the Bible 39 00:03:07,500 –> 00:03:08,979 you 40 00:03:08,979 –> 00:03:14,660 See the sons of David many sons of David are mentioned and in the Genealogies 41 00:03:14,660 –> 00:03:19,000 You know how often multiple offspring are mentioned. But in the case of Solomon 42 00:03:19,899 –> 00:03:26,539 Only one son is mentioned. No daughter is mentioned only one offspring and 43 00:03:27,720 –> 00:03:34,539 His name was Rehoboam. You can read about him in 1 Kings chapter 11 through chapter 14 44 00:03:34,580 –> 00:03:39,000 He was the successor to Solomon of course and reigned for 17 years 45 00:03:39,600 –> 00:03:42,300 after his father’s death and 46 00:03:43,259 –> 00:03:45,259 So I think it is very reasonable 47 00:03:45,479 –> 00:03:49,500 Therefore for us to hear these verses that are before us today 48 00:03:50,360 –> 00:03:53,320 first as the passionate plea of 49 00:03:54,259 –> 00:03:56,259 King Solomon 50 00:03:56,539 –> 00:03:58,899 To his own son 51 00:03:59,979 –> 00:04:03,119 Raha bone the only one to be named in the Bible 52 00:04:04,080 –> 00:04:10,220 Raha bone was 41 years old when he became king when his father died so 53 00:04:10,679 –> 00:04:16,859 We are to picture then that the father was speaking to the son at an earlier stage maybe in his teenage years 54 00:04:18,040 –> 00:04:20,040 It being his 20s 55 00:04:20,320 –> 00:04:22,519 or maybe in his 30s 56 00:04:23,799 –> 00:04:26,959 And he sits down with his son and bring in 57 00:04:26,959 –> 00:04:33,100 Collected wisdom to bear that we have preserved for us by the Holy Spirit and the verses that have been read 58 00:04:33,140 –> 00:04:38,779 He says Proverbs 23 in verse 26 my son. Give me your heart 59 00:04:40,640 –> 00:04:46,519 So these are the words of a wise father that’s the first thing to know a good father who loves his son 60 00:04:48,279 –> 00:04:54,859 These are not the words of an emotionally needy dad who’s sort of saying oh, love me. Love me, please 61 00:04:55,019 –> 00:04:57,519 I need you to love me. It’s nothing like that at all 62 00:04:58,820 –> 00:05:01,519 these are the words of a good father and 63 00:05:02,600 –> 00:05:07,019 he is seeking the good of his son and what he says is 64 00:05:07,859 –> 00:05:11,279 My son give me your heart 65 00:05:12,380 –> 00:05:14,380 That’s the focus of his concern 66 00:05:15,940 –> 00:05:20,679 Now I want to focus on three things today, we’ll spend most of our time on the first two 67 00:05:20,779 –> 00:05:26,500 Let’s begin here. Why the hearts matters. Why does he say give me your heart? Why is the heart 68 00:05:26,959 –> 00:05:28,959 so important in 69 00:05:29,239 –> 00:05:31,619 The Bible as indeed it is 70 00:05:32,160 –> 00:05:36,940 Well, the heart very simply is the command and control center of your life 71 00:05:36,940 –> 00:05:42,600 your heart is the deepest thing about you where your heart is is 72 00:05:43,220 –> 00:05:47,640 always the central question where your heart is today will be a 73 00:05:48,059 –> 00:05:50,820 Predictor of where your life will be tomorrow 74 00:05:51,820 –> 00:05:57,079 Let me give you just very briefly six Scriptures that point in different ways to the importance of the heart 75 00:05:58,059 –> 00:06:01,279 First the Bible makes clear that your hearts direct your life 76 00:06:02,359 –> 00:06:09,640 Proverbs 4 in verse 23 keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life 77 00:06:10,640 –> 00:06:14,500 Notice keep your heart. You have brother sister a 78 00:06:15,260 –> 00:06:19,600 Responsibility for your own heart. God says to you you gotta guard your heart 79 00:06:20,380 –> 00:06:25,000 You’ve got to keep your heart. If your heart is cold. There’s a reason why your heart is cold 80 00:06:25,899 –> 00:06:28,640 If your heart is all over the place today 81 00:06:28,640 –> 00:06:32,399 There’s a reason why it’s become distracted and why it’s all over the place 82 00:06:32,399 –> 00:06:36,239 Why is your heart like that and someone else’s is in a different place? 83 00:06:36,579 –> 00:06:43,799 You have a responsibility for your own heart and here’s why it matters because from your heart flow the springs of your life the whole 84 00:06:44,279 –> 00:06:50,119 Trajectory of your life where you will be tomorrow springs from where your heart is today 85 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:54,119 Second the heart is a mystery 86 00:06:55,040 –> 00:06:57,239 Jeremiah chapter 17 in verse 9 87 00:06:57,920 –> 00:07:01,859 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick 88 00:07:02,359 –> 00:07:08,679 We’ll come back to that in a moment. But notice the last part of the verse who can understand it 89 00:07:09,239 –> 00:07:11,239 Who can understand it? 90 00:07:11,239 –> 00:07:13,160 Stephey 91 00:07:13,160 –> 00:07:15,160 Can you explain your own heart 92 00:07:16,920 –> 00:07:19,399 Can you explain why you are as you are 93 00:07:21,399 –> 00:07:25,239 Why you feel what you feel why you’re drawn to what you are drawn to 94 00:07:27,799 –> 00:07:33,660 Well, someone may say well pastor if you if you knew what had happened to me in my life that would explain 95 00:07:34,119 –> 00:07:36,119 Why I am but here’s the thing 96 00:07:36,279 –> 00:07:37,959 Other 97 00:07:37,959 –> 00:07:42,839 people have experienced something very similar to what you have experienced in your life 98 00:07:44,200 –> 00:07:46,200 And they may be in a very different place 99 00:07:48,200 –> 00:07:50,440 So, how are you going to explain that 100 00:07:52,440 –> 00:07:54,440 The heart is a mystery 101 00:07:55,559 –> 00:08:01,320 That’s why paul speaks in romans in chapter 7 about his own heart he says I don’t understand it 102 00:08:01,320 –> 00:08:03,320 I’m sensitive to it 103 00:08:03,399 –> 00:08:06,839 And what I want to do, I end up not doing and what I 104 00:08:07,399 –> 00:08:13,739 Don’t want to do I end up going there. Why is that? I it’s a mystery to me. I seem to be a mass of contradictions 105 00:08:17,079 –> 00:08:19,079 Third the heart is sinful 106 00:08:19,320 –> 00:08:25,000 I already saw that from jeremiah, but look at it in the words of jesus in matthew chapter 15 in verse 19 107 00:08:25,399 –> 00:08:28,200 He says this from out of the heart 108 00:08:29,000 –> 00:08:31,160 From the heart come evil thoughts 109 00:08:32,440 –> 00:08:34,440 and murder 110 00:08:34,440 –> 00:08:39,880 and adultery and sexual immorality and theft and false witness 111 00:08:41,400 –> 00:08:43,400 And slander 112 00:08:44,119 –> 00:08:49,479 Now, of course, we like to think that bad things are all out there and come to us from outside 113 00:08:49,640 –> 00:08:51,719 But the bible won’t let us get away with that 114 00:08:53,400 –> 00:08:56,119 No, the lord jesus says very clearly that 115 00:08:56,119 –> 00:08:57,719 that 116 00:08:57,719 –> 00:09:01,559 It comes from inside, it’s out of the heart 117 00:09:03,559 –> 00:09:06,119 That these sins and these evils flow 118 00:09:07,559 –> 00:09:13,159 Now, of course as parents we rightly feel a responsibility to do whatever we can 119 00:09:13,719 –> 00:09:20,039 to protect our children from the many many evils that are indeed in the world out there 120 00:09:21,000 –> 00:09:23,960 But of course when we take to heart what we learn in the Bible 121 00:09:24,039 –> 00:09:27,960 We understand that the greatest danger not only to our children 122 00:09:28,200 –> 00:09:34,280 but indeed to all of us is not in fact the evil that is out there, but the evil that is in here 123 00:09:35,960 –> 00:09:37,960 In our own hearts 124 00:09:39,479 –> 00:09:46,359 Now this actually is very important for parents to grasp, particularly parents who grieve over a 125 00:09:46,919 –> 00:09:49,400 Rebel son or a rebel daughter 126 00:09:49,640 –> 00:09:52,359 let me quote to you from john white a 127 00:09:52,580 –> 00:09:59,080 Christian psychologist and councillor and speaker who wrote a very helpful book called parents in pain 128 00:09:59,960 –> 00:10:02,280 and he talks in that book about the 129 00:10:02,979 –> 00:10:08,679 theories of raising children that are widespread in our culture 130 00:10:09,400 –> 00:10:12,679 that simply assume that children are 131 00:10:13,320 –> 00:10:16,280 the product of their upbringing period 132 00:10:16,520 –> 00:10:17,559 and 133 00:10:17,559 –> 00:10:19,559 he says this that these theories 134 00:10:20,059 –> 00:10:24,679 assume that children come into the world and I quote 135 00:10:25,479 –> 00:10:27,640 as clean slates 136 00:10:28,840 –> 00:10:31,320 for their parents to write on 137 00:10:33,320 –> 00:10:38,119 If the parents write properly says john white describing these theories 138 00:10:38,840 –> 00:10:42,280 If the parents write properly what they ought to write 139 00:10:42,280 –> 00:10:47,159 That is if they rear their children properly, they will then produce well adjusted 140 00:10:47,619 –> 00:10:50,539 Outgoing morally upright and self-reliant children 141 00:10:52,119 –> 00:10:57,739 And therefore any defects in the final product must reflect parental 142 00:10:59,140 –> 00:11:02,640 Mismanagement now that’s his description of widespread 143 00:11:04,739 –> 00:11:11,880 Raising theory in our world that we are simply the product of our environment and so forth and so on and therefore 144 00:11:12,299 –> 00:11:14,340 anything that is produced 145 00:11:14,419 –> 00:11:19,380 That is a mist in in a child is to be blamed at the mismanagement of the parents 146 00:11:20,539 –> 00:11:22,539 Now here’s what John White is saying 147 00:11:23,159 –> 00:11:25,159 He’s making this point 148 00:11:26,520 –> 00:11:29,780 Child rearing theories may say 149 00:11:30,859 –> 00:11:34,760 That children come into the world as a clean slate 150 00:11:35,460 –> 00:11:37,460 for parents to write on 151 00:11:38,460 –> 00:11:44,340 But the Bible if we understand it is saying to us something very different the Bible is saying 152 00:11:44,719 –> 00:11:51,520 Children do not come into the world as a clean slate for parents to write on children come into the world 153 00:11:51,580 –> 00:11:56,320 With sin written on their hearts already. The slate is already 154 00:11:56,940 –> 00:11:58,020 graffitied 155 00:11:58,020 –> 00:12:02,140 And that is how it has been done through the generations since 156 00:12:02,340 –> 00:12:03,719 Adam and Eve 157 00:12:03,719 –> 00:12:11,020 Were rejected from the Garden of Eden sin is already scrawled on the slate. The heart is sinful 158 00:12:11,719 –> 00:12:13,719 And that is something very 159 00:12:14,239 –> 00:12:19,200 Fundamental we need to understand it by that’s why it’s a mystery to us. That’s why we don’t even understand ourselves 160 00:12:21,239 –> 00:12:23,239 For if God looks at the heart 161 00:12:23,419 –> 00:12:25,880 for Samuel chapter 16 and verse 7 162 00:12:26,520 –> 00:12:31,179 the Lord sees not as man sees because man looks on the outward appearance 163 00:12:31,179 –> 00:12:34,340 But God the Lord looks on the heart 164 00:12:35,460 –> 00:12:37,460 Here’s what this means 165 00:12:38,479 –> 00:12:42,380 That God looks into your life more deeply 166 00:12:43,900 –> 00:12:47,440 Than anyone else ever can or ever will 167 00:12:48,280 –> 00:12:51,020 God looks into your life more deeply 168 00:12:52,080 –> 00:12:56,679 Other people just see you on the outside. They hear your words and they see your expressions 169 00:12:56,979 –> 00:13:01,239 They look on the outward appearance but God alone is able to look on the heart 170 00:13:01,520 –> 00:13:06,099 He sees into you and what is going on inside you right now 171 00:13:06,260 –> 00:13:11,539 More deeply than any other person ever can or ever will 172 00:13:13,359 –> 00:13:15,359 And you may not understand 173 00:13:15,919 –> 00:13:18,900 Your own heart. Why do you love what you love? 174 00:13:19,820 –> 00:13:24,179 Why do you think and feel as you do, but you can be sure of this that 175 00:13:24,820 –> 00:13:29,799 While you may not understand your own heart God surely and certainly does 176 00:13:31,580 –> 00:13:36,599 Fifth the heart is very important for this reason that the heart actually often contradicts the mouth 177 00:13:37,479 –> 00:13:42,140 Jesus says in Matthew 15 this people honors me with their lips 178 00:13:43,640 –> 00:13:46,059 But their heart is far from me 179 00:13:46,559 –> 00:13:53,820 Now, of course it is true that what we say is often the overflow of our heart 180 00:13:53,820 –> 00:13:57,039 That’s why what we say is often very revealing about us 181 00:13:57,960 –> 00:14:05,640 Our Lord Jesus makes this clear doesn’t he says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. That’s Luke 6 and verse 45 182 00:14:06,640 –> 00:14:13,659 But here Jesus is making clear that that is not always the case and it is possible for the heart to become 183 00:14:14,479 –> 00:14:16,479 Disconnected from the mouse 184 00:14:17,099 –> 00:14:21,460 In other words, it is possible to be in church and to say the right things and so forth 185 00:14:21,460 –> 00:14:25,919 but actually for your heart to be in another place and 186 00:14:27,359 –> 00:14:29,460 Very far from God indeed 187 00:14:30,739 –> 00:14:37,859 Which is why Jesus says why do you call me Lord Lord and you don’t do what I command you 188 00:14:38,140 –> 00:14:40,140 You 189 00:14:40,400 –> 00:14:47,179 Remember Jesus told a story about two sons not the prodigal son. This is another story that was making this point 190 00:14:48,119 –> 00:14:54,760 the certain man had two sons and he said to both of these sons go work in my vineyard and 191 00:14:55,140 –> 00:14:58,619 The first one said, yes, I will but he didn’t go 192 00:14:59,260 –> 00:15:04,919 And the second one said no, I’m not going to do that. But then he changed his mind and he did go 193 00:15:05,440 –> 00:15:06,460 I 194 00:15:06,460 –> 00:15:08,659 Think about this in both cases 195 00:15:09,760 –> 00:15:13,960 The heart was in a different place from the mouth in both cases 196 00:15:16,039 –> 00:15:21,260 Sixth the roots of unbelievably lie, not in the head but in the heart 197 00:15:22,400 –> 00:15:26,119 Psalm 14 in verse 1 where God says what only God can say 198 00:15:27,059 –> 00:15:30,099 The fool says in his heart 199 00:15:31,479 –> 00:15:33,479 There is no God 200 00:15:34,359 –> 00:15:38,460 Now the person who does not believe may also say in their head 201 00:15:38,479 –> 00:15:39,919 There is no God 202 00:15:39,919 –> 00:15:47,239 But you see the point that is being made here unbelief has a deeper roots than in the intellect 203 00:15:47,679 –> 00:15:49,880 The fool says in his heart 204 00:15:51,479 –> 00:15:53,479 There is no God 205 00:15:54,320 –> 00:16:00,679 Now it is a very simple fact does it not that there are people who are of great intellect 206 00:16:01,559 –> 00:16:06,659 Who are Christians, and there are people of great intellect who are not Christians? 207 00:16:08,919 –> 00:16:10,880 Because faith and unbelief 208 00:16:11,219 –> 00:16:13,320 Both have a deeper root 209 00:16:14,400 –> 00:16:17,320 Than the intellect it does not depend upon 210 00:16:18,000 –> 00:16:20,000 knowledge or upon intelligence 211 00:16:22,000 –> 00:16:26,320 Here, we’re being told in fact that unbelief is visceral 212 00:16:26,320 –> 00:16:30,960 At its root rather than intellectual 213 00:16:32,419 –> 00:16:36,039 That it arises at its root from a hidden 214 00:16:36,599 –> 00:16:43,380 Resistance towards God that lies deep in the human heart that the person who does not believe may not even recognize 215 00:16:43,580 –> 00:16:49,039 Or fully understand themselves. It’s in the heart. It comes out of this there is no God 216 00:16:51,200 –> 00:16:53,200 Why is it that 217 00:16:53,979 –> 00:16:55,880 two people 218 00:16:56,359 –> 00:17:00,200 Can go through exactly the same experience and 219 00:17:01,780 –> 00:17:07,839 One comes out praising God and the other comes out blaming God 220 00:17:09,800 –> 00:17:13,619 Two people experience a terrible loss and 221 00:17:15,400 –> 00:17:21,079 One comes out with a testimony to God’s help in the trouble and 222 00:17:22,640 –> 00:17:25,760 Another comes out with another reason 223 00:17:26,359 –> 00:17:28,359 To believe 224 00:17:28,819 –> 00:17:30,819 It was the same experience 225 00:17:32,660 –> 00:17:34,660 Why the difference 226 00:17:36,319 –> 00:17:42,900 Or the differences he lies in the heart that’s taking a person in a different direction 227 00:17:45,420 –> 00:17:48,260 Why the heart matters once you ponder 228 00:17:48,880 –> 00:17:50,880 the command and control 229 00:17:50,979 –> 00:17:57,199 Center of your own life and the mystery that it is you will see why the Bible again and again and again 230 00:17:57,479 –> 00:17:59,619 Comes back to speak about your heart 231 00:17:59,619 –> 00:18:05,280 And why God says to you today my son my daughter give me your heart 232 00:18:08,459 –> 00:18:14,000 Now let’s turn to a second thing because I want us to see in these verses here where the heart 233 00:18:14,699 –> 00:18:16,260 Goes wrong 234 00:18:16,260 –> 00:18:22,040 When Solomon says to Rehoboam my son. Give me your heart 235 00:18:22,939 –> 00:18:27,040 It seems very clear just from that statement that this is a father 236 00:18:27,680 –> 00:18:29,680 Who has some anxiety? 237 00:18:29,839 –> 00:18:32,079 Over where his son’s heart is 238 00:18:33,339 –> 00:18:38,500 now remember as we think about this that Solomon was famed for his wisdom and 239 00:18:39,180 –> 00:18:45,140 So here is a wise father who is discerning his son’s heart 240 00:18:46,540 –> 00:18:52,040 Now remember, especially in the early years when Solomon would have collected and spoken these words of wisdom 241 00:18:52,680 –> 00:18:58,079 That Solomon followed the best of his father David’s example 242 00:18:59,199 –> 00:19:03,099 But remember also that Solomon see these are real-life stories 243 00:19:04,280 –> 00:19:06,280 Solomon had a brother 244 00:19:06,839 –> 00:19:13,680 whose path went in a very different direction the brother’s name was Absalom and 245 00:19:14,560 –> 00:19:18,900 Absalom raised a rebellion against his father David and 246 00:19:19,560 –> 00:19:27,040 That rebellion led his life on a sorry path that had a very miserable end indeed 247 00:19:28,280 –> 00:19:31,739 And so here’s Solomon who at this point in his life is 248 00:19:32,079 –> 00:19:36,619 Following in the path of the best example of his own father David 249 00:19:36,619 –> 00:19:40,099 And he’s looking at his son and saying I wonder where your heart is 250 00:19:40,099 –> 00:19:44,800 Will my son be like my rebel brother. 251 00:19:44,800 –> 00:19:49,119 That’s the question here and 252 00:19:50,500 –> 00:19:52,500 Solomon is anxious 253 00:19:53,239 –> 00:19:59,099 There are certain things it seems from these verses that he is seeing in the heart of his son 254 00:19:59,780 –> 00:20:03,060 And so like a wise father he addresses them 255 00:20:04,119 –> 00:20:05,900 Let me point out three here 256 00:20:05,900 –> 00:20:12,880 I want to suggest to you three places where the heart most often goes wrong I suspect these were the things 257 00:20:13,640 –> 00:20:16,260 Because Solomon says them here that he was seeing 258 00:20:17,420 –> 00:20:20,099 Emerging in the heart of his own son 259 00:20:21,239 –> 00:20:25,040 The first is that the heart goes wrong with regards to who you admire 260 00:20:26,000 –> 00:20:28,000 verse 17 261 00:20:28,400 –> 00:20:30,400 Let not your heart 262 00:20:31,040 –> 00:20:32,140 envy 263 00:20:32,140 –> 00:20:34,140 sinners 264 00:20:34,300 –> 00:20:38,599 But continue in the fear of the Lord all the day 265 00:20:40,780 –> 00:20:44,920 Now we’ve every reason to believe that Rehoboam in his early years 266 00:20:45,699 –> 00:20:48,660 Conformed to the faith of his grandfather 267 00:20:49,140 –> 00:20:54,900 David and of his father Solomon the faith that had been passed on the faith with which he was raised 268 00:20:56,699 –> 00:21:03,800 But it seems from this that when Rehoboam looked at Godless people people who live without God in their lives 269 00:21:04,959 –> 00:21:09,760 It seems he found their life their model their example to be attractive 270 00:21:09,760 –> 00:21:14,219 That’s the significance surely of let not your heart envy the wicked 271 00:21:15,540 –> 00:21:17,540 and so here’s Solomon’s fear 272 00:21:18,060 –> 00:21:20,839 He has a son who professes faith 273 00:21:21,699 –> 00:21:24,180 he professes to believe the 274 00:21:24,619 –> 00:21:29,640 Faith that was handed down from his grandfather David and now his father Solomon 275 00:21:30,640 –> 00:21:34,680 But there seems to be in this son a 276 00:21:35,219 –> 00:21:37,219 secret longing an 277 00:21:38,380 –> 00:21:43,640 Attraction of his heart a drawing of his heart to move in a different direction 278 00:21:46,219 –> 00:21:53,180 Solomon says verse 24 he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him 279 00:21:54,160 –> 00:21:58,000 But at this point you see Solomon’s not sure if he’s got a wise son or not 280 00:21:59,000 –> 00:22:05,959 He fears that his son’s heart may be somewhere else. He admires the wrong people 281 00:22:07,599 –> 00:22:09,699 He envies sinners 282 00:22:10,900 –> 00:22:17,380 He looks up to the example of people who live without God. They are the role models for him 283 00:22:18,579 –> 00:22:20,599 and they’re the ones he wants to be like 284 00:22:20,599 –> 00:22:29,000 Now I want to speak from the heart to every son and daughter of whatever age 285 00:22:29,000 –> 00:22:33,599 who has been raised in a Christian home, you have Christian parents or Christian 286 00:22:33,599 –> 00:22:44,560 grandparents and here’s the burden of my heart today. I can think of no greater tragedy than 287 00:22:45,239 –> 00:22:50,959 that while people who had no knowledge of the truth in their early years and 288 00:22:50,959 –> 00:22:59,520 were exposed to all kinds of evils, while so many of them are pressing their way 289 00:22:59,520 –> 00:23:06,199 into finding peace and joy in Jesus Christ, you who have had more blessings 290 00:23:06,199 –> 00:23:16,020 than you may ever realize, some of you seem ready to throw it all up. That’s a 291 00:23:16,020 –> 00:23:22,300 tragedy. That others who had none of the blessings you have enjoyed should end up 292 00:23:22,300 –> 00:23:26,020 pressing into the knowledge of Christ and all the good that comes from that 293 00:23:26,020 –> 00:23:32,040 forever and forever, and that you, who had all the opportunity, should sit with 294 00:23:32,040 –> 00:23:40,459 your heart envying the wicked and end up throwing it all away. And do you know 295 00:23:40,459 –> 00:23:46,119 what the first sign of being ready to throw it all away is? You start envying 296 00:23:46,119 –> 00:23:52,640 sinners. You start looking at people who live without God and you say, that’s what 297 00:23:52,640 –> 00:23:56,859 I want to be like. I want to be like her. I want to be like 298 00:23:57,060 –> 00:24:03,699 him. I see how they live and that’s how I want to live and when I get the chance 299 00:24:03,699 –> 00:24:08,339 that’s what I’m going to do. And here you are in church and that’s where some of 300 00:24:08,339 –> 00:24:15,000 you are right now. Second place, the heart goes wrong, is not simply in who you 301 00:24:15,000 –> 00:24:21,739 admire but it’s in how you decide. Look at verse 18, here’s something else that 302 00:24:21,739 –> 00:24:29,160 surely Solomon discerned in his son. He says to him, surely there is a future and 303 00:24:29,160 –> 00:24:38,800 your hope will not be cut off. Now I think that this shows to us that Solomon 304 00:24:38,800 –> 00:24:44,420 saw in his son a growing tendency to live only in the present and to lose 305 00:24:44,420 –> 00:24:50,680 sight of the future. In other words Solomon is seeing that his son is going 306 00:24:50,800 –> 00:24:56,079 more and more with what he thinks and feels at any given point in time and 307 00:24:56,079 –> 00:25:01,400 so what Solomon says to him in this verse is, look son, surely there is a 308 00:25:01,400 –> 00:25:08,959 future. In other words don’t make your decisions in life on the basis of 309 00:25:08,959 –> 00:25:15,000 short-term comfort. Son, there’s a future. You make your decisions in life on the 310 00:25:15,020 –> 00:25:23,900 basis of long-term outcomes. Surely there is a future. Now friends this is 311 00:25:23,900 –> 00:25:28,760 obviously of huge importance for us today because our culture is bombarding 312 00:25:28,760 –> 00:25:36,359 us with a philosophy that says live in the moment. It seems to me to be a new 313 00:25:36,359 –> 00:25:42,680 phrase but it’s around us everywhere. If it means that we are to be fully present 314 00:25:43,140 –> 00:25:47,719 and fully engaged in whatever we are doing at any given time rather than 315 00:25:47,719 –> 00:25:51,239 have our mind distracted off at a dozen other places trying to do multiple 316 00:25:51,239 –> 00:25:55,959 things at the same time then that would be a very good thing. Live in the moment 317 00:25:55,959 –> 00:26:03,680 but I have noticed often enough to want to comment on this today. I have noticed 318 00:26:03,680 –> 00:26:11,599 the phrase live in the moment being used too often by people who are very clearly 319 00:26:11,719 –> 00:26:20,459 moving away from Christian faith. I’m trying to live in the moment pastor and 320 00:26:20,459 –> 00:26:26,540 if I understand that correctly I think what is being said here is this. I’m 321 00:26:26,540 –> 00:26:35,280 going with what I feel and sometimes I feel I want to know God and sometimes I 322 00:26:35,380 –> 00:26:43,719 don’t and I live in the moment. Now in a world that is constantly saying to you 323 00:26:43,719 –> 00:26:48,800 live in the moment I want you to hear the word of our 324 00:26:48,800 –> 00:26:54,500 Father in Heaven who says to you surely there is a future. I want you to hear 325 00:26:54,500 –> 00:27:02,920 that. Always remember this friend. Your life the life that God gives to you 326 00:27:02,920 –> 00:27:11,760 comes into very unequal parts. You have a very very short life in time and you 327 00:27:11,760 –> 00:27:17,560 have a very very long life in eternity. That’s the life that God has given to 328 00:27:17,560 –> 00:27:25,880 you. How short is your life in this world? Listen to how God describes it. He uses 329 00:27:25,880 –> 00:27:37,239 pictures so that we’ll get it. All flesh is grass. The grass withers when the 330 00:27:37,239 –> 00:27:50,760 breath of the Lord blows on it. How long does grass live? About a week. Then you 331 00:27:50,760 –> 00:27:57,719 cut it and it’s blown and it is gone. If you’ve not cut your grass for three 332 00:27:57,719 –> 00:28:04,520 weeks, hey there you are. You know, time to do it, right? About a week. That’s the 333 00:28:04,520 –> 00:28:11,459 image that God our Father gives to us. If you want to think rightly about your 334 00:28:11,459 –> 00:28:16,079 life, you have to think of the proportion of what you have in this 335 00:28:16,079 –> 00:28:20,280 world in relation to what you have in eternity and let me put it in a picture 336 00:28:20,479 –> 00:28:25,359 for you. It’s like grass, that’s your whole life. If you lived one hundred 337 00:28:25,359 –> 00:28:28,979 years and more, that’s what your life in this world is like in relation to 338 00:28:28,979 –> 00:28:37,680 eternity. You haven’t got much time. And then, in case we didn’t get the point, in 339 00:28:37,680 –> 00:28:40,500 the New Testament God uses another analogy, it’s the 340 00:28:40,500 –> 00:28:48,839 analogy of mist. What is your life, James chapter 4 and verse 14, you are a mist 341 00:28:48,920 –> 00:28:55,040 that appears for a little time and then vanishes like a mist and a haze in the 342 00:28:55,040 –> 00:29:03,000 morning and it’s all blown away by noon. That’s your entire life in this world. 343 00:29:03,000 –> 00:29:12,140 We’re all here today and gone tomorrow and then we will all stand before the 344 00:29:12,140 –> 00:29:16,000 judgment seat of Christ. And the person in the congregation who’s lived the 345 00:29:16,000 –> 00:29:22,020 longest life and the person in the congregation who has lived the shortest 346 00:29:22,020 –> 00:29:26,859 life in eternity will seem like, one was two clicks and the other was one but the 347 00:29:26,859 –> 00:29:33,520 difference between them will be very, very small in the light of eternity. 348 00:29:33,520 –> 00:29:38,199 Now says Solomon to his son, you’re not thinking rightly. You’re living in the 349 00:29:38,199 –> 00:29:44,239 moment, you’re going all the time with what you feel now. Son don’t make your 350 00:29:44,339 –> 00:29:49,560 decisions on the basis of what makes you feel good now. Make your decisions on 351 00:29:49,560 –> 00:29:55,040 what will make you feel good then because your entire life in this world 352 00:29:55,040 –> 00:30:02,119 is this long, your entire life in eternity is infinitely. Surely there is a 353 00:30:02,119 –> 00:30:14,959 future! And Son, if you walk the path of wisdom your hope will not be cut off. 354 00:30:14,959 –> 00:30:18,880 You see, here’s one of the pressures, especially on younger people today. We 355 00:30:18,880 –> 00:30:22,880 hear all the time this phrase, don’t we, we want to be on the right side of 356 00:30:22,880 –> 00:30:29,079 history. Here’s our answer to that friends, we need to be on the right side 357 00:30:29,260 –> 00:30:36,420 of eternity. We need to be on the right side of eternity. Where the heart goes 358 00:30:36,420 –> 00:30:48,599 wrong, who you admire, how you choose, and thirdly, where you invest. Look at verse 359 00:30:48,800 –> 00:31:03,920 23, where Solomon says to his son this, buy truth and do not sell it by wisdom, instruction 360 00:31:03,920 –> 00:31:15,560 and understanding, buy truth, invest in truth. I wonder since Solomon says that as he speaks 361 00:31:15,599 –> 00:31:22,020 with this candor to his son, I wonder if that indicates that Solomon’s son was losing interest 362 00:31:22,020 –> 00:31:31,400 in the truth. They would have had the five books of Moses, the Pentateuch, and they would 363 00:31:31,400 –> 00:31:34,859 have read from that part of the scripture that they had. 364 00:31:34,859 –> 00:31:41,199 I wonder if when the old Testament books of Moses were brought out when they were read, 365 00:31:41,319 –> 00:31:48,520 I wonder if Solomon saw his son’s eyes rolling in the corner of the room. 366 00:31:48,520 –> 00:31:55,599 I wonder if when they went to worship in Solomon’s great temple whether Solomon noticed that 367 00:31:55,599 –> 00:32:01,260 his son looked as if he had absolutely not the faintest bit of interest in what was going 368 00:32:01,260 –> 00:32:10,380 on in all of the world. And he thinks to himself, my son’s heart’s in another place. 369 00:32:10,380 –> 00:32:16,959 He’s anxious. His son once was learning The Truth and showed some interest in truth, 370 00:32:16,959 –> 00:32:24,719 but now there seems to be no interest in it at all. And he says this, buy the truth! 371 00:32:24,719 –> 00:32:34,040 Notice that there is such a thing as the truth and that it is worth whatever it costs you 372 00:32:34,040 –> 00:32:42,979 to get it. Solomon doesn’t tell his son what it will cost him to stand for the truth. He 373 00:32:42,979 –> 00:32:46,540 doesn’t know. There isn’t one of us here who knows what it will cost our children to 374 00:32:46,540 –> 00:32:53,160 stand for the truth or our grandchildren to stand for the truth. Not a single one of us. 375 00:32:53,160 –> 00:33:00,900 None of us knows. It might cost friends for you to embrace, buy the truth. It might cost 376 00:33:01,020 –> 00:33:08,000 opportunities in your life. It might cost your life. But you see what Solomon is saying 377 00:33:08,000 –> 00:33:15,000 to his son here, he’s saying, buy the truth at any price. Now those of you who are investors 378 00:33:16,339 –> 00:33:21,939 know you wouldn’t do that with anything else. With any other investment you’d look at the 379 00:33:21,939 –> 00:33:28,479 price and then you’d look at the options. But what Solomon says to his son is look son 380 00:33:28,479 –> 00:33:35,479 when it comes to the truth it’s in a whole different category because the price is never 381 00:33:35,739 –> 00:33:42,739 too high for the truth because the truth has a value that is supreme because it has a value 382 00:33:43,900 –> 00:33:50,900 that is eternal. And your life in this world is very short. Your life in eternity is very 383 00:33:51,420 –> 00:33:58,420 long indeed, so by the truth, whatever it costs you. You bind the truth like a belt 384 00:34:00,140 –> 00:34:07,140 around your waist and do not sell it. Judas sold the truth but he’s not an example for 385 00:34:10,860 –> 00:34:17,860 you. No, says this wise father, the truth is worth more than anything you could ever 386 00:34:17,879 –> 00:34:24,860 gain by giving it up. Whatever you think you will gain in life by giving up the truth, 387 00:34:24,860 –> 00:34:31,860 the truth is worth more than anything you will ever gain by giving up the truth. So 388 00:34:33,020 –> 00:34:40,020 buy the truth and do not sell it. So here are three places there where a wise 389 00:34:41,760 –> 00:34:47,419 father is telling his son that the heart most often goes wrong. He’s concerned about his 390 00:34:47,439 –> 00:34:52,540 son because it seems that he sees some evidence of these things in his son’s heart and in 391 00:34:52,540 –> 00:34:53,360 his life. 392 00:34:53,360 –> 00:35:00,360 Son, it’s about who you admire, and it’s about how you decide and it’s about where you invest. 393 00:35:02,000 –> 00:35:09,000 Solomon saying to his son, I don’t know right now where your heart is, but I’m saying to 394 00:35:09,600 –> 00:35:15,520 you, my son, give me your heart. 395 00:35:15,699 –> 00:35:21,840 Well, very obviously this raises the question for all of us men, women, fathers, sons, mothers, 396 00:35:21,840 –> 00:35:25,739 daughters, where is your heart today? 397 00:35:25,739 –> 00:35:30,679 When Jesus was asked what is the very first commandment, what is the very first thing 398 00:35:30,679 –> 00:35:37,679 that God requires of every one of us? He said, love the Lord your God with all your heart. 399 00:35:38,020 –> 00:35:44,360 Where do you stand in relation to that first calling of God upon your life today, to love 400 00:35:44,360 –> 00:35:51,360 the Lord with all your heart? And you better guard your heart, because from it flow the 401 00:35:52,919 –> 00:35:57,820 springs of your life. 402 00:35:57,820 –> 00:36:04,820 I pondered, do we go to the outcome of the story today or do we hold it for next week? 403 00:36:04,939 –> 00:36:12,439 Big, big preacher’s decision. So I did the only wise thing to do. I asked my wife. 404 00:36:15,320 –> 00:36:21,379 And she said, you’d better tell them the end of the story today. 405 00:36:21,379 –> 00:36:28,379 And here’s why I hesitated, because the outcome of the story isn’t good. 406 00:36:30,280 –> 00:36:36,840 But I’ve taken her advice and I think it’s right to follow the story to its conclusion. 407 00:36:36,840 –> 00:36:39,000 Because today we’re looking at the heart gone wrong. 408 00:36:39,000 –> 00:36:42,679 Next week we’re going to look at the heart getting right. 409 00:36:42,879 –> 00:36:47,479 If you want the conclusion of the story you’ll find it in 2nd chronicles chapter 12 410 00:36:47,479 –> 00:36:53,760 in verses 13 and 14 and the words that are used there are very, very striking indeed. 411 00:36:53,760 –> 00:36:58,459 So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and he reigned. 412 00:36:58,459 –> 00:37:05,419 So this is the son, Solomon has now died, Rehoboam is 41 years old when he began to 413 00:37:05,419 –> 00:37:11,879 reign and he reigned for 17 years in Jerusalem. 414 00:37:11,879 –> 00:37:17,580 Again notice what the scripture says, “…And he did evil.” 415 00:37:17,580 –> 00:37:19,540 Why did he do evil? 416 00:37:19,540 –> 00:37:31,600 Notice what it says, “…for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord, he did not 417 00:37:31,600 –> 00:37:37,899 listen to his father’s wisdom.” 418 00:37:37,959 –> 00:37:42,979 You know, think about this, and I say this for the father and for the mother who wrestles 419 00:37:42,979 –> 00:37:48,800 with a rebel son or a daughter and so often you go over and over what might we have done 420 00:37:48,800 –> 00:37:52,860 different and all of that. 421 00:37:52,860 –> 00:37:56,860 The wisest father who ever lived had a rebel son. 422 00:37:56,860 –> 00:38:05,600 In fact, if you have a rebel son or a rebel daughter or if you are anxious about a grandchild, 423 00:38:05,600 –> 00:38:10,719 you will want to have made a very clear note of Isaiah chapter one in verse two where God 424 00:38:10,719 –> 00:38:17,620 says this, I raised children and they rebelled against me. 425 00:38:17,620 –> 00:38:24,879 You take that in, God says I raised children, He’s referring to Israel of course. 426 00:38:24,879 –> 00:38:28,199 And they rebelled against me. 427 00:38:28,199 –> 00:38:35,439 Well you cannot have a better or a wiser father than God. 428 00:38:35,439 –> 00:38:42,000 Rehoboam I think is one of the saddest characters in all of the Bible because he was so privileged 429 00:38:42,000 –> 00:38:45,340 and gave it all away. 430 00:38:45,340 –> 00:38:46,760 Think of this. 431 00:38:46,760 –> 00:38:50,560 The scripture is very precise in its language. 432 00:38:50,560 –> 00:38:57,459 And it tells us about David who was Rehoboam’s grandfather. 433 00:38:57,459 –> 00:39:03,540 That his heart was wholly true to the Lord. 434 00:39:03,600 –> 00:39:10,239 We then read later in the story that Rehoboam had a grandson. 435 00:39:10,239 –> 00:39:13,760 And the same words, precisely the same words are used of him. 436 00:39:13,760 –> 00:39:20,800 His name was Asa, and it is said of Asa that his heart was wholly true to the Lord. 437 00:39:20,800 –> 00:39:22,760 So here’s Rehoboam standing in the middle. 438 00:39:22,760 –> 00:39:25,760 He’s got a grandfather wholly true to the Lord. 439 00:39:25,760 –> 00:39:28,959 He’s got a grandson wholly true to the Lord. 440 00:39:28,959 –> 00:39:33,239 And he’s in the middle and he’s given it all away. 441 00:39:33,600 –> 00:39:41,479 Because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. 442 00:39:41,500 –> 00:39:49,979 Well, we’re going to look throughout the message next week at what it means to get 443 00:39:49,979 –> 00:39:51,100 the heart right. 444 00:39:51,100 –> 00:39:55,620 But let me just leave you with this in just two minutes. 445 00:39:55,620 –> 00:40:03,060 I think there are two prayers that Rehoboam’s grandad prayed that would have greatly helped 446 00:40:03,120 –> 00:40:09,239 him and would be of great help to any who find ourselves with a heart that is astray 447 00:40:09,239 –> 00:40:10,320 today. 448 00:40:10,320 –> 00:40:15,919 One of the reasons David had a heart that was wholly true to the Lord was that he learned 449 00:40:15,919 –> 00:40:16,919 to pray like this. 450 00:40:16,919 –> 00:40:19,100 He asked God to search his heart. 451 00:40:19,100 –> 00:40:24,360 Search me, Oh God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts and see if there 452 00:40:24,360 –> 00:40:28,260 is any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. 453 00:40:28,260 –> 00:40:30,620 Oh, make that your prayer today. 454 00:40:30,639 –> 00:40:33,179 It’s a great prayer. 455 00:40:33,179 –> 00:40:35,139 Lord, show me where my heart is. 456 00:40:35,139 –> 00:40:38,500 I don’t even understand my own heart, but you do. 457 00:40:38,500 –> 00:40:42,459 You’re able to look into it as no one else ever can and no one else ever will. 458 00:40:42,459 –> 00:40:46,139 Now, will you reveal to me what you see in my heart today? 459 00:40:46,139 –> 00:40:50,500 Show me where I’m grieving you right now. 460 00:40:50,500 –> 00:40:52,639 Show me where I’m admiring the wrong people. 461 00:40:52,639 –> 00:40:57,699 Show me where I’m making the wrong decisions, and show me where I’m investing myself in 462 00:40:57,699 –> 00:40:58,879 the wrong ways. 463 00:40:59,679 –> 00:41:05,199 Then, as you ask God to search your heart, ask God to change your heart. 464 00:41:05,199 –> 00:41:10,040 Oh, Rehoboam’s grandfather knew what it was to pray like this. 465 00:41:10,040 –> 00:41:18,300 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 466 00:41:18,300 –> 00:41:24,800 Friends, the message today, the message of the gospel is not get your heart right so 467 00:41:24,800 –> 00:41:27,120 that you can come to God. 468 00:41:27,120 –> 00:41:35,320 The message of the gospel is come to God in order that you may get your heart right. 469 00:41:35,320 –> 00:41:39,840 You do not come to Jesus Christ because you have a right heart. 470 00:41:39,840 –> 00:41:44,860 You come to Jesus Christ because you need a right heart, and you know today that you 471 00:41:44,860 –> 00:41:46,360 don’t have it. 472 00:41:46,360 –> 00:41:51,179 So, you come to the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom this great promise is ours. 473 00:41:51,179 –> 00:41:55,560 I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. 474 00:41:55,560 –> 00:42:01,620 When you say, Oh God, give me a clean heart through Jesus Christ. 475 00:42:01,620 –> 00:42:04,219 Change me. 476 00:42:04,219 –> 00:42:12,120 And then God will indeed do that, and He will say, Son, Daughter give Me your heart. 477 00:42:12,120 –> 00:42:20,459 Father, may there be real heart change in all of us according to your purpose today 478 00:42:20,459 –> 00:42:23,820 and these things we ask in Jesus name. 479 00:42:23,820 –> 00:42:24,479 Amen.