Sermon Tone Analysis

LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING |

We are on week 5 of our exploration of Proverbs to see what it says about staying on the right path.

THE BOOK IS FILLED with nuggets of wisdom:

Solomon writes about following the way of wisdom:

, he talks about following the way of wisdom: Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.

: In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

: In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

, Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

Prov 14:

Prov 14:

If you’ve been with us for all or most of the series, you know that the principles that are true in geography are equally true in all of life.

Those principles are:

If you’ve been with us for all or most of the series, you know the principle Solomon teaches is true: Your direction, not your intentions, determine your destination.

We’ve reviewed the main Principle of the book: Your direction, not your intentions, determine your destination.

Solomon adds to that truth by reminding us: Your FOCUS determines whether or not you stay on the right path!

ILLUSTRATION

Not long ago, nearly every State in the U.S. passed laws prohibiting people from talking on cellphones without some sort of hands-free device.

Research proved if a person is staring at their phone, giving more attention to it than to the road, there’s a good chance they’ll steer themselves OFF the road or into someone else on the road.

A few weeks ago; I was riding my bike and person riding their bike with earphones in their ears, staring at their phone, came off a side-path and I slid sideways to avoid a collision—they NEVER HEARD ME OR SAW ME and continued down the road oblivious of the near accident.

FACT: What you give your attention too, will not determine if you stay on the road, but it prevent you from getting harmed!

Mankind has known this fact for thousands of years.

Solomon taught it 3,000 years ago in the book of Proverbs.

He wrote:

Solomon emphasizes the truth, “Our destination is determined by our direction, and our direction is dictated by whatever HOLDS our attention—our FOCUS!”

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

In other words, “Our destination is determined by our direction, and our direction is dictated by whatever holds our attention—our FOCUS!”

I have noticed, when I am focused, I easily get things done and I am constantly evaluating my progress; and, when I am not focused, I am easily captured by something that diverts me from my goal.

The truth is, Whatever CAPTURES my attention influences my direction!

Author Andy Stanley writes:

All of us have people or events or opportunities in our past that captured our attention.

Many led us astray.

There are people you wish you had never met.

Relationships you wish you’d never initiated.

Numbers you wish you’d never called.

Voicemails you wish you’d never acknowledged.

Business “opportunities” you wish you had ignored.

In reflection, life was better before these things grabbed our attention.

And looking back, we wished we would have stayed on the same path.

But we didn’t.

And what captured our attention altered our direction and brought results we still regret.

Solomon reminds us:

Solomon reminds us: Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

“Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

“Do not swerve…” Implies WE HAVE A CHOICE!

We can CHOOSE what we give attention too!

What is Solomon telling us?

The implication is we get to CHOOSE, DECIDE which path to take!

When we make the right choice, we often discover it it is NOT A HEART CHOICE!

IT’S A CHOICE OF INTENTIONAL DELIBERATION made after seeking the counsel of many advisors!

When we make a wrong choice, it is OFTEN AN EMOTIONAL DECISION driven by a HEART NOT IN SYNC with God!

When we make the right choice, we discover it often NOT A HEART CHOICE.

It’s a choice of INTENTIONAL DELIBERATION made after seeking the counsel of many advisors!When we make a wrong choice, it is an EMOTIONAL DECISION driven by a HEART NOT IN SYNC with God!

Remember what Jeremiah said?

“The heart is exceedingly deceitful and wicked…!”

The heart-felt emotions we have, often take us off-track!

We get captured by something powerful and it engages us, and takes us away from our goal.

What does Solomon say?

Emotions often take us off-track—we get grabbed by something that is powerful and it engages us away from our goal.

SOLOMON reminds us to MARK OUT a straight path, choose your direction, FOCUS!

Make a choice.

Choose which direction you will go, and then fix your gaze directly on it!

What you give your attention to determines your direction.

And the direction you head in determines your destination.

What you give your attention to determines your direction.

And the direction you head in determines your destination.

I want to ask you a question: what has your attention these days?

Is it a relationship?

A career?

A hobby?

Is it a person who is leading you somewhere you don’t really want to go?

Is it your marriage?

Your children?

Your faith?

Is it an achievement you’re hoping to accomplish soon?What has your attention?

Here’s a second question: What do you WANT to have your attention?

If you could only fix your eyes on one thing, what would it be?

Five weeks into this series, I want to make a suggestion to you.

The Apostle Paul described his approach to life this way:

Choose which direction you will go!

Fix your gaze directly on it!

REMEMBER, YOUR FOCUS KEEPS YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR DESTINATION!

What you give your attention too, determines your direction.

Let me ask you a question: What are focused on these days?

What has your attention?

Is it a relationship?

A career?

A hobby?

Is it a person who is leading you somewhere you don’t really want to go?

Is it your marriage?

Your children?

Your faith?

Is it an achievement you’re hoping to accomplish soon?

What has your attention?

Here’s a second question: What do you WANT to have your attention?

If you could only fix your eyes on one thing, what would it be?

Where would your focus take you?

Five weeks into this series, I want to make a suggestion to you