How to Protect God's Wisdom Like Your Eyes

Hey, carpool crew. Happy Sunday. Maybe you're in the car heading to church or just putting those final touches on your hair before you leave. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. We're continuing our series Proverbs for your school life because Proverbs isn't just for grownups with jobs. It's for you, for your friends, for your real decisions right now. And today's verse is all about how you protect what matters most. It comes from Proverbs chapter seven, verse two, and here's what it says. Keep my commands and live, protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye. See, back when Solomon wrote this, people didn't just read God's word. They memorized it. They carried it with them. They repeated it at all times. Solomon was teaching his kids that God's wisdom is life giving, and if you wanna live well, you got to take it seriously. And here's something cool. Jesus would've definitely memorized this verse. He grew up learning these exact proverbs and he lived them out perfectly. Okay, let's slow this one down because it uses a phrase most kids don't really use. Protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye. What's the pupil of your eye? Well, it's the black center part of your eye. If you look in a mirror, you'll see it. You look at a sibling or look at mom or dad, you'll see it in their eye. It's super sensitive and your body automatically protects it. Think about it. You blink fast when something comes near your face, you squint when the light is really bright outside, you flinch when a bug flies too close to your face. I do not like it when bugs fly too close to my face, by the way. But that's what Solomon is saying. Protect God's wisdom like you'd protect your eyes. It's precious. It helps you see clearly in life. If you lose it, things get blurry fast. And when he says, keep my commands and live, he doesn't just mean stay alive, he means live well, make smart choices, avoid painful consequences, stay on the path God has for you. If Jesus were sitting right next to you, I think he'd say something like, you protect your stuff, your phone, your iPad, your Xbox, or PS five controller with a case, a password, a screen protector. I want you to protect your heart and your mind the same way. Jesus followed the commands of his father, not just to obey rules, but because it led to a real life. Let's say you're in the middle of soccer practice, or practice any sport, and someone kicks the ball straight toward your face. What's your first move? You flinch, you duck. You throw up your hands, you block it. You don't even think about it. You just protect yourself without hesitation. Solomon is saying, do that with God's wisdom. Don't let junk into your heart. Don't roll your eyes at the truth mom or dad may be telling you. Don't treat the Bible like just another thing on your bookshelf. Guard it. Keep it close. Let it shape how you see the world. So what are some ways you can apply this today? Well, first, treat God's word like your eyes, precious and protected. Second, think about what you're letting into your mind this week. Are you listening to the right stuff? Are you listening to the right music? Are your friends telling the right kind of stories and the right kind of jokes? Lastly, make a choice to memorize one verse. It's a way to keep his command forefront in your mind. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you like today's episode, feel free to share it with some other parents. Let them know about Carpooling with Jesus. And before you go, answer this question together. What's one way you can protect God's wisdom in your life this week? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.