I heard a story a number of years ago called the Keeper of the Springs. In it, the author talked about a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps.
The old gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt from the fresh flow of water. By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque.
Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man's eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? For all we know he is doing us no good. He isn't necessary any longer!" By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man's services.
For several weeks nothing changed. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A couple days later the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was detected. The mill wheels moved slower, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.
Embarrassed, the council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the spring . . . and within a few weeks, the river began to clear up.
This story brings to mind a passage of scripture that talks about another spring we are urged to guard.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
— Proverbs 4:23
We are to guard the spring of our hearts, for every part of our life flows from it. Just like the forest dweller made sure that any debris was cleaned from the springs that fed the town, we are to be vigilant to allow only good, clean, wholesome inputs into our hearts and lives.
Why is this important?
Because what we allow into our hearts today - the things we watch, listen to, allow to influence us - will be what is coming out in our lives tomorrow.
This works in both the positive and the negative. Allowing good things into your heart - hearing and listening to God’s word, reading good books and listening to positive influences, thinking thoughts that are pure and holy and noble - these will produce a harvest of faith and hope and life in your future.
But expose yourself to negative inputs - listening to the news regularly, watching shows or movies that are not wholesome or good, being around gossipy people, dwelling on the future and the concerns and worries ahead - these are going to lead you to a place of fear and uncertainty, of a negative outlook ahead.
Don’t believe me? Well, consider this thought. This principle of what you put into your heart coming out in your life is already at work in your life today. Because the truth is, that what is happening in your life today is a direct result of what you allowed into your heart yesterday. Our lives are downstream of our hearts.
Struggling with fear and worry and anxiety? These were things you were dwelling on previously. Feeling full of faith and hope and excitement for the future? These were seeds you sowed into your heart yesterday.
This is also good news for us. Because it means that we can start today and fill our hearts with what we want in our lives tomorrow. Want peace tomorrow? Sow thoughts of peace today. Want faith tomorrow? Sow God’s words into our hearts today.
The Proverbs 4:23 verse mentioned above is within the context of a passage that gives us some guidelines on how to live this out.
My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear 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 one’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
``Proverbs 3:20-27
In verses 20-22, it talks about the priority of filling our hearts with God’s word. Then in verses 24-27 it gives instruction on what to avoid, and what paths to take.
Understand this principle, and apply its potential in your life, and you will be amazed at what it produces!