Day 1,054: Proverbs 21- What Does Your Heart Pursue?

​The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he turns it wherever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.

8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
    will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.

19 It is better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man devours it.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    keeps himself out of trouble.

24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

28 A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.

29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright gives thought to his ways.

30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but the victory belongs to the Lord.
 
Meditation
The treasure of your heart will set the trajectory for your life. You are moved to action by what you love in your heart. Your constant movement for what your heart hungers for will leave you restless until God Himself is the treasure of your heart.
 
Wisdom compels us to “pursues righteousness and kindness” to “find life, righteousness, and honor” (21).  At the same time, “the Lord weighs the heart” (2). The One who is sovereign over kings (1) also sees the motivations that move us. Only God’s love can lead you to truly seek God, finding the life, righteousness, and honor for which you hunger.
 
Affection for God deepens when awareness of the gospel increases. Grace awakens hearts to love God and seek God. Yes, there is a place for discipline and habits to cultivate momentum in seeking God, but only a deeper awareness of God’s love transforms duty into delight.
 
“Love is kind” describes Jesus, the righteous One who Himself is Life. The wisdom of verse 21 is to seek Jesus Himself, to treasure Jesus above all perceived treasures of the world. A heart molded by mercy will pursue Jesus and find everything else your heart is hoping to hold.
 
Jesus invites you to pursue Him saying, “come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus teaches that seeking first the King and His kingdom will lead to satisfaction of our longings (Matthew 6:33). The way of wisdom, seeking righteousness and kindness, begins with knowing God’s love and allowing Him to be your treasure.
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you love God, truly? Or is your relationship with Him more duty than delight?
 
-Where do you seek life, righteousness, and honor outside of God Himself? Is your heart finding the rest it is hungering for?
 
-Jesus stands ready to give you rest, inviting you into deeper relationship with Him. Will you let love in and move forward seeking Him?
 
Key Verse
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.