Pay Attention

(Proverbs 5:23 KJV)  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

A question I used to hear when people were more concerned was, “What about the people who have never heard the gospel?”  They are in the same situation as people who have heard the gospel and refused to listen:  They are going to “die” (4191).  This obviously is talking about an eternal, spiritual death.  The sad part of this truth is that there is actually more hope for people who have never been in a location to hear the gospel than there is for the church member who has heard it repeatedly and will not listen.  God is not out looking for ways to send people to hell.  They have already made that choice but,

(Romans 2:14 KJV)  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

But back to our verse.  If you read through this chapter and the book of Proverbs you find a theme of being careful that you pay attention to what you are being taught.  This chapter is full of warnings about not listening and following what you hear.  It is not a warning that someone else is not listening.  It is meant for you and for me.

So?  Pay attention.  If you find that you are not hearing anything it may be because you are listening to the wrong people and places.  It could be that you are reading too much at your favorite gossip column and not in the Word.  Adjust accordingly.