Proverbs 27:19 states:  "As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man."  Throughout the book of Proverbs, the heart is used as a symbol of a person's deepest emotions, desires and motivations.

The various proverbs concerning the heart show that, although a person may be able to temporarily hide his or her real character, eventually an individual's deepest thoughts and emotions are revealed in words and actions.

Points to build on

1. A wise person seeks to understand emotions and motivations while a foolish person trusts in his or her own feelings.

Proverbs 18:2:  "A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart."

Proverbs 28:26:  "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered."

2. The natural way of human beings is to seek our own desires and suffer anxiety when considering God's ways.

Proverbs 19:3:  "The foolishness of man twists his ways, and his heart frets against the Lord."

3. A person's heart ultimately determines his or her words.

Proverbs 10:20:  "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little."

Proverbs 15:7:  "The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so."

Proverbs 16:23:  "The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips."

4. A person's heart ultimately determines his or her actions (ways).

Proverbs 11:20:  "Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight."

5. A person's true heart will eventually be exhibited to others.

Proverbs 12:8:  "A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised."

Proverbs 14:33:  "Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known."

6. A person who develops a mature heart is willing to learn, while a showoff will fail.

Proverbs 10:8:  "The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall."

Application

Wisdom is concerned with the deepest emotions, desires and motivations because these are the foundation of character and behavior.