A penny for your thoughts

Proverbs 4 v 23
Introduction
Often said when someone is deep in thought, a penny for your thoughts! But your thoughts are worth so much more than a penny! In fact your thoughts are among some of your most precious treasures. Solomon said “as he thinks in his heart, so he is” (prov 23v 7), Solomon was known as the wisest man to have ever lived, he probably knew more about this subject than we do, so lets just unpack on verse, Prov 4 v 23
I. What we should do: guard your thoughts!
A. Any meaningful consideration of your thoughts must examine your heart also
1. There is more to us than our brains, but our brains and our thoughts are what make the inner man meaningful
2. Your thinking is what you really are
B. Keeping your heart involves 2 things
1. What you allow to enter it
2. What you allow to go on in it
II. How we are to do it: carefully!
A. With extreme care
1. Not only carefully, but with all diligence
2. Another translation tells us to exercise the utmost care over our thoughts
B. How careful are you?
1. If you kept your body like you keep your mind……
2. If you kept your house like you keep your mind…..
3. If you kept your friends like you keep your mind…..
4. If you kept your finances like you keep your mind….
III. Why we are to do it: because they are the source of true life
A. Because our minds don’t turn naturally toward God
1. It is deceitful (Jer 17:9, Prov 28 v 26)
2. It’s desires are determined by pride (Rom 12: 3)
B. Because the mind determines what we are (prov 23 v 7 again!)
1. The real nature of you and me is in our thoughts
2. This is why a brain transplant is impossible!!!!!!
C. Because the mind determines what we do
1. Jesus is very clear on this (Matt 12: 35)
2. This works in both directions (Dan 5:6)
D. Because we can sin with our thoughts
1. Jesus taught us this (Matt 5: 28)
2. If you think about it (!) there is more mental sin than physical stuff! Both bad!
E. Because the mind it the communication point with temptation
1. Clearly taught in James 1 v 14
2. This is the reason for Jesus suggestion prayer in Mark 14 v 38
F. Because uncontrolled thoughts lead to problems
1. A controlled life is necessary to positive Christian living (2 Cor 10:5)
2. Uncontrolled thoughts can impact others (Heb 12:15)
G. Because our desires arise out of our thoughts
1. The “fruits of our thoughts” (Jer 6:19)
2. very few sins are unplanned!
Conclusion
What you think is so important, bitterness, lust, hate, discontent, pride, lies. The ways you think are also incredibly important, negativity, worry, fantasies, self pity, distrust, unhappiness. Never take a penny for your thoughts, as they are worth so much more than that, they are in fact priceless! They can make you or break you, in this world and for the world to come!