Many people know the Bible well yet live unchanged lives. Why? A person’s heart posture matters. Accumulating knowledge without a proper heart posture leads to dangerously deceiving and treacherous roads for the Christian. It self-deceives the Christian who is constantly around things of God, yet not necessarily with Him.

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
—Proverbs 23:26

Growing in Christlikeness requires the Christian to properly posture their heart before God. In pursuit of spiritual maturity, it’s very natural to move into action or knowledge consumption. Serving in the church, Bible reading, studying theology, and going on mission trips are all visible growth opportunities that we should consider and do.

The less obvious growth opportunity lies within—the heart. Scripture indicates that the heart is paramount to one’s spiritual growth. Jesus even refers to the “heart” in the Great Commandment:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the great and first commandment.
—Matthew 22:37-38

Oftentimes, pastors, churches, theologians, members, and others can equate spiritual maturity solely to Bible and theological knowledge. However, the Scriptures start with the heart and stay at the heart as knowledge is gained. In fact, the Proverbs constantly correlate the heart with knowledge and instruction. The authors of the Proverbs speak of knowledge, instruction, and wisdom in direct correlation to the heart.

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
—Proverbs 18:15

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
—Proverbs 23:12

The book of Proverbs in the Bible is wisdom literature. Its purpose is to impart wisdom and give instruction to the upcoming generation on how to live a flourishing life. In the book of Proverbs, the word “heart” is mentioned 79 times. “Heart” is in all but four of its thirty-one chapters. What is the significance of this recurrent word, “heart”? According to Solomon and the few other anonymous authors of the Proverbs, knowledge, instruction, and wisdom are inseparable from the heart.

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