The Source of Actions

By Dr. Derek Carlsen 

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NKJV). The word translated here as “issues” means, “sources of life.”^[1] Waltke said, “The point here is that the heart is the source of the body’s activities…The metaphor implies, according to Delitzsch, not only that life has its fountains in the heart, ‘but also that the direction which it takes is determined by the heart.’”^[2] The heart is, “‘the wellspring of life’ in that the capacity to live with joy and vigor ultimately comes from within and not from circumstances. The corrupt heart draws one down to the grave, but Wisdom protects the heart from that corruption.”^[3]

Hearts Contrasted

In the story of Joseph, we see different actions flowing from guarded and unguarded hearts. Joseph clearly guarded his heart, whereas his brothers did not. There is no Biblical basis for finding fault in Jacob giving Joseph a coat of many colors, or in Joseph sharing his dreams and keeping his brothers accountable (Genesis 37:1-11).

The Brothers’ Actions

The brothers’ responses to their circumstances revealed their unguarded hearts. Our hearts are guarded by God’s truth which teaches that our circumstances come from His sovereign hand and also what we ought to do, i.e., how we should respond. Joseph’s brothers, on the other hand, allowed their feelings and emotions to lead, thus they “hated him and could not speak peaceably to him” (Genesis 37:4), then they “hated him even more” (vs.8) and “envied” him (vs.11; Acts 7:9). Hatred and envy progressed to plotting his murder (Genesis 37:20) and finally, disposing of him by selling him into slavery (vs.28).

Hated and Sold

To be hated by your ten older brothers who constantly spoke to you with disdain and aggression is a tough situation to endure. Then to have them sell you into slavery when you were only seventeen, ripping you away from your father’s home, is extremely traumatic. We know from the brothers’ own testimony later, how much anguish Joseph was in, pleading with them, probably with tears, to not do what they were doing, but they ignored him (Genesis 42:21).

Potiphar’s House

Had Joseph not guarded his heart he might have allowed himself to be consumed by bitterness and self-pity, but rather he trusted the Lord and did with his might what he was given to do (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:17). Joseph was quickly promoted until everything Potiphar owned was placed under his authority (Genesis 39:4). Then Potiphar, due to his wife’s false accusations, had Joseph thrown into prison (vs.20).

The Prisoner

Joseph again guarded his heart by trusting the Lord and excelled in the work he was given to do, rising once more to a position of prominence (vs.22-23). After correctly interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants saying that one would be executed and the other restored, he asked the restored servant to remember him before Pharaoh. The chief butler, however, forgot about Joseph (Genesis 40:23)—Joseph again guarded his heart. 

Ruler over Egypt

When Joseph was finally exalted by Pharaoh and given the second highest position in the country, only Pharaoh was higher, Joseph again guarded his heart and sought no revenge against Potiphar’s wife. Likewise, when his brothers came down to Egypt for food, he guarded his heart and sought no revenge but rather comforted them when he told them who he was, as they were “dismayed in his presence” (Genesis 45:3). He said to them, “do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life” (vs.5). 

Conclusion

Our lives will ultimately be epistles testifying to how well we guarded our hearts. The purpose of life is to be effective servants in God’s kingdom. Unguarded hearts are easily sidetracked by envy, bitterness, hatred, self-pity and not trusting the Lord’s plan. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Joseph is a wonderful example of what guarding one’s heart looks like in extremely difficult circumstances. The source of anyone’s actions is their heart, thus, as one translation puts it, “Above all else, guard your heart” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).

^[1] Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). In Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon(p. 426). Clarendon Press.

^[2] Waltke, B. K. (2004). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (p. 298). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

^[3] Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 88). Broadman & Holman Publishers.