Proverbs 15:30

Your Creator gave you eyes and ears. He also created and ordained many things for your pleasure by both senses. Are you thankful? Do you make full use of them as He intended, and do you help others do the same? A healthy life and prospering soul require good inputs through eyes and ears. What can you do to lift your spirit and those of others?

Your eyes use light to see the things around you. Blind men wish they could see, and seeing men should thank God for their sight. A dark room needs artificial light and a dark night needs a sunrise to rejoice the heart by renewed vision. Cloudy days and long winters depress the soul, but bright days and spring bring gladness to the heart.

Solomon wrote, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Ec 11:7). Sunrises and sunsets rejoice every heart, and so do all the wonders of creation that can be seen everywhere during the day and in the sky at night. His lesson was to enjoy life while you have it, for there is only darkness in the grave. Young men should follow their hearts and eyes within God-approved limits (Ec 11:9-10).

Great joy filled Jacob’s heart when he saw wagons of gifts from Joseph (Gen 45:25-28). The married lovers in Solomon’s Song were filled with joy as they looked at each other’s bodies. Wisdom teaches us to enjoy the relationships we have and to provide a pleasant view as well. Are you satisfied with spouse and children? Could you please them more?

But better yet is an enlightened view of the gospel, where the glory of God shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ (II Cor 4:6). David prayed that he might behold wondrous things out of God’s word (Ps 119:18). Job knew he would see his Redeemer with resurrected eyes some day (Job 19:25-27), and so shall all of God’s children (I John 3:2). Glory!

It is also true that a kind and pleasant look from a friend or ruler can rejoice your heart by their affection or approval. Such looks between lovers can turn the stomach in a good way. The loving favor of others should be more important than silver and gold (Pr 22:1), and a king’s approving countenance and favor are precious indeed (Pr 16:15; 19:12).

Loving approval in another’s eyes is one of the most pleasant things you can see. The heart rejoices to see acceptance and favor in the windows of the soul of another person. Likewise, a good report is one of the most pleasant things you can hear. It energizes and strengthens the body. Do you cause hearts to rejoice and bones to grow fat?

Your ears are for hearing pleasant sounds and interpreting profitable speech. Fat bones, a metaphor for pleasure and prosperity, are the result. The deaf wish they could hear. Are you thankful for working ears? What do you take in through your ears? What do you provide for others to hear? Do you make others’ bones fat, or do you grind them?

A good report is news that cheers the heart, enlightens the mind, and lifts the spirit. Good news from a far country is like cold water to a thirsty soul (Pr 25:25). Jacob’s heart first fainted when hearing that Joseph was alive in Egypt, but when the report was confirmed, his spirit revived (Gen 45:25-28). A good word can make a heavy heart glad (Pr 12:25).

Do your lips feed others (Pr 10:2,32)? Do others rejoice at the kind and profitable things you say to them? Is your tongue the source of health by wise words you speak to others (Pr 12:18)? Are you a tree of life (Pr 15:4)? Do you praise good conduct? A kind thought not expressed is worthless. Whose bones could you fatten today by a good report?

The best use of your mouth is to praise God, teach wisdom, and spread truth. Do you have the certain words of truth in your mouth to answer others (Pr 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15)? Are you one among a thousand that can show a convicted man his ransom (Job 33:19-26)? Do you boast in the LORD in such a way to give gladness to the humble (Ps 34:2)?

The most blessed ears are those who hear the gospel and keep it (Luke 11:28). Jesus honored them above His mother Mary. They hear the joyful sound and walk in the light of God’s countenance (Ps 89:15). They are no less privileged than the shepherds who saw and heard the angels announce the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-14).

Some say music is the language of the soul. What kind do you listen to? Does it lift your heart to noble and virtuous thoughts and conduct? Or fill it with lustful thoughts while moving your body in sexual rhythms? For true Christians, since their body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, the music entering their sound gates, or ears, should glorify God.

What lessons are here? God created both your eyes and ears, and you should be thankful for the pleasure and profit they provide. He also created and ordained things to see and hear, some natural and some spiritual, but all good. Do you emphasize these godly inputs? How do you influence others? Do you help them see and hear good things?

“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them” (Pr 20:12). This applies naturally and spiritually. If you can see the beauty of creation, and you can hear its varied noises and sounds, you are blessed. But if you can see and hear the mysteries of Christ’s gospel with understanding, you are more blessed (Matt 13:16).