THE KEEPER OF THE SPRINGS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 

“Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Pr 4:23 NIV 

A quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village in the Alps was hired by a town to keep the pristine mountain springs, the source of the town’s water supply, clear of pollution and debris. With faithfulness and regularity, the old man patrolled the hills, clearing away silt and removing leaves and branches from the springs. Over time, the village became prosperous. Mill wheels turned, farms were irrigated, and tourists came. Years passed. Then one day at a council meeting about the city budget, a member noticed the salary figure for the old man. He asked, “Who is he, and why do we keep him on the payroll? Has anybody seen him? For all we know, he might be dead.” So the council voted to dispense with his services. For several weeks, nothing changed. Then the trees began to shed their leaves. One afternoon, a town citizen noticed a brown tint to the water. Within another week, a slick covered sections of the canals and a foul odor was detected. Then sickness broke out. The town council called a special meeting and, reversing their error in judgment, rehired the old man. Renewed life soon returned to the village as the sparkling waters returned. The name of the keeper of the springs? Self-control! Plato said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” Author John Foster said, “A man without a decision of character can never be said to belong to himself...He belongs to whatever can make captive of him.” So here is the word for you today: “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”