When I visit my doctor, he runs through a well-rehearsed routine. First, he examines my eyes, ears, and throat. Then he listens to my heart and lungs and palpates my internal organs. Finally, he manually examines my hands, feet, and joints. After he’s finished his routine, he tells me how I’m doing.
Proverbs 4:20-27 is a visit with Dr. Wisdom. He looks us over from head to toe, starting with the ears and eyes.
Pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man’s whole body.
If you want to live long and well, you must listen carefully and watch closely. But not to just anyone! Rather, you need to pay attention to God and the godly. Receiving their counsel and following their example lead to the good life, both now and eternally.
Dr. Wisdom moves on to the heart.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
As the heart goes, so goes the body. The heart pumps blood to our limbs and organs. If there are toxins in our blood, they get spread to the rest of our body. If the heart doesn’t pump at all, our body dies. The same is true in our spiritual life. If we fill ourselves with the toxins of sin and foolishness, they degrade our quality of life. If we don’t develop a heart of love for God and our neighbors, we die spiritually. Heart health is of the utmost importance.
Now Dr. Wisdom pulls out a stethoscope and asks us to open our mouth.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Do we speak with integrity, or do we lie? Do we edify others with our speech, or do we demean them? Dr. Wisdom is look for canker sores and sore throats in our pattern of speech. What does he see in your mouth?
Concerned about something, Dr. Wisdom returns to our eyes.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
One of the basic problems in the spiritual life is “wandering eyes.” Men’s eyes wander from their own wives to the beautiful woman walking by. Women’s eyes wander from what they’ve got to what they’re neighbors have. Healthy eyes keep the right things in focus. They don’t let themselves be tempted out of envy for what others have.
Finally, Dr. Wisdom takes a look at our feet.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
The good life is a journey from now to eternity. We need healthy feet to get us from here to there, feet that don’t stray down false spiritual trails or wander into ethical dead ends. When we leave Dr. Wisdom’s office, we’re path-ready.
GeorgePWood.com 
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