Proverb 1
We are all born with a rebellious streak – some more than others. Think about the three-year old who continually gets out of her bed after being put down because she wants to play rather than sleep. She has to be told time and again to go back to bed, and possibly punished because she wants to play rather than sleep. Her parents don’t want to punish her, but they know how important sleep is to being a healthy and happy child. As she grows into a teenager, she disobeys her parents because she wants to go out with friends who aren’t the best influence on her, and her parents tell her she can’t hang out with them. Again, the parents don’t want to deny their daughter, but they know her friends don’t have her best interests at heart. As she becomes an adult in her 30’s and 40’s, she thinks she knows all about life and how to handle it. However, she becomes anxious because her own children don’t listen to her and financially her family is struggling. She doesn’t ask her parents for advice because she thinks they are old and don’t understand her struggles. She’ll manage, but life is very hard.
Solomon, in Proverbs 1, tells his child to listen to his parents.
My child, listen to your father’s teaching
and do not forget your mother’s advice.
Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair
or a necklace around your neck. (vv. 8-9)
Notice, Solomon doesn’t say obey, but listen. Parents aren’t perfect. Sometimes we get it wrong and we need to apologize to our children when we do. However, teaching children to obey their parents at a young age teaches them to obey authority such as teachers, bosses and the greatest authority over their lives – God.
Adult children sometimes think they have life all figured out, but it might be wise to listen to their parents, especially if they have been through similar experiences. I know I really appreciated my mom’s common sense. I could go to her concerning any situation and we could talk it out. We may not always have agreed with each other, but I valued her advice, whether I acted on it or not. Just being able to engage in a conversation with her often helped clear up the situation.
So what do you do if you don’t have Godly parents, or no parents at all? First of all, I’m really sorry if you fit in this category. My heart goes out to you. But I have good news. You don’t have to try to go through life alone, rather, you have a heavenly Father who loves you and will never abandon you or give you bad advice. Proverbs is a book for all people who want to be known for their wisdom, and need a parental shoulder to lean on. In fact, King Solomon begins his book acknowledging that it is for all people.
These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.
They teach wisdom and self-control;
they will help you understand wise words.
They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled
and will teach you to do what is honest and fair and right.
They make the uneducated wise
and give knowledge and sense to the young.
Wise people can also listen and learn;
even they can find good advice in these words.
Then anyone can understand wise words and stories,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord, (vv.1-7a)
For King Solomon, knowledge and wisdom go hand in hand, and they are both gifts from God. Wait, stop! Wisdom doesn’t come from old age or Buddhist monks or our favorite uncle? No. Wisdom comes from God. One of the biggest lies we swallow is that we can become wise on our own. We can’t.
After telling us where wisdom and knowledge come from, King Solomon proceeds to explain the consequences of not listening to wisdom; which basically leads to a difficult life that ends in death. However, for those willing to bow down to the wisdom given by God, a life of peace belongs to them.
Fools will die because they refuse to listen;
they will be destroyed because they do not care.
But those who listen to me [wisdom, given by God] will live in safety
and be at peace, without fear of injury. (vv.32-33)
In order to live long and prosper, you only need to begin by listening to God and ask Him for wisdom and knowledge. Listening to our Heavenly Father is the best parent we can listen to.
*All Bible quotes are from The New Century version.
