What the Young Person Must Guard
Base Text: Proverbs 4:23–27
INTRODUCTION
The Timeless Wisdom of Solomon The world changes, but the nature of the human heart remains the same. The advice King Solomon gave thousands of years ago is just as vital for a young person in 2026 as it was then.
Living with Spiritual Vigilance The current culture pushes youth to live without filters or boundaries, urging them to "follow their hearts" wherever they may lead. However, God calls for a different kind of life—a guarded life. In Proverbs 4, we find a spiritual "security protocol" for four key areas of our lives.
Not Just Faith, But Custody It is not enough to simply say we believe; we must actively guard what God has entrusted to us. Our spiritual destiny is determined by what we allow in and what we allow out.
Central Idea: The young person who guards their inner self and their actions according to the Word of God walks toward eternal life and glorifies the Lord.
I. THE YOUTH MUST GUARD THEIR HEART
Proverbs 4:23 — "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."
A. The Source of Life In the Bible, the "heart" isn't just an organ; it is the command center of your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. It is the "wellspring" from which your daily conduct flows.
B. The Root of Good and Evil Jesus made it clear that external actions are simply symptoms of an internal state. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts..." (Mark 7:21–23). If the heart is hardened or neglected, it naturally drifts away from God (Ephesians 4:18).
C. How to Guard the Heart
• Hide the Word: Store Scripture in your heart so you won't sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).
• Seek Pure Desires: Jesus promised that the "pure in heart" are the ones who will see God (Matthew 5:8).
Application: A clean heart is like a clear lens; it allows you to see God’s will and live in holiness.
II. THE YOUTH MUST GUARD THEIR TONGUE
Proverbs 4:24 — "Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you."
A. The Power of Words The tongue is small, but its impact is massive. It holds the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). A tongue left unguarded becomes a fountain of deceit and malice (Psalm 10:7).
B. Common Sins of Speech Youth often struggle with the pressure to fit in through:
• Profanity or blasphemy.
• Deception and "white lies."
• Gossip or malicious talk.
• Impulsive words spoken in anger.
C. Biblical Mandates We are commanded to keep our tongues from evil (Psalm 34:13). James warns that it is a spiritual contradiction to use the same mouth to bless God and curse people made in His image (James 3:9–12).
Application: Think before you speak. Use your voice as an instrument for God's glory, not as a weapon of destruction.
III. THE YOUTH MUST GUARD THEIR EYES
Proverbs 4:25 — "Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you."
A. Sin Begins with a Look History is full of people who fell because they didn't guard their sight:
• Eve saw the fruit was pleasant (Genesis 3:6).
• Achan saw the forbidden gold (Joshua 7:21).
• David saw Bathsheba from the roof (2 Samuel 11:2).
B. The Lamp of the Body Jesus taught that the eye is the "lamp" of the body. If your eye is healthy (focused on the light), your whole body will be full of light (Matthew 6:22). However, looking with lust or greed is already a sin in the heart (Matthew 5:28).
C. Practical Radicalism Jesus used strong metaphors, like "plucking out an eye," to show how serious we must be about removing sources of visual temptation (Matthew 18:9).
Application: What you look at influences what you desire. Fix your gaze on Christ and avoid the digital and physical "trash" that feeds the flesh.
IV. THE YOUTH MUST GUARD THEIR FEET
Proverbs 4:26–27 — "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."
A. Walking in Integrity A young person's "feet" represent their direction in life—the places they go and the company they keep. We are called to stand on level ground in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 26:12).
B. Feet for the Gospel Instead of walking toward sin, your feet should be used for the mission of God. There is a special beauty in the feet of those who carry the good news of peace (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15).
C. Avoiding the Detour The proverbist warns against "veering to the right or the left." This means making intentional decisions that honor God, even when the crowd is heading in a different direction.
Application: The places you frequent and the paths you choose today define your spiritual destination tomorrow.
- Young Protagonists: Don't Be Shy 2 Timothy 1:7
- Young People Who Know The Word
- Young Man, Go With God All The Way Hebrews 12:1
CONCLUSION
God’s call to the young person is a call to a vigilant and holy life.
1. Guard your heart by filling it with the Word.
2. Guard your tongue by speaking only what edifies.
3. Guard your eyes by looking at what is pure.
4. Guard your feet by staying on the narrow path.
When you guard these areas, you aren't "missing out" on life; you are securing the only life truly worth living.
