Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones. Proverbs 15:30

It is a good thing to be bright-eyed and fat-boned as a Christian.  Ok, there is a sentence you won't hear everyday.  Yet the fact is that today's proverb tells us that this is a good thing - and that the wise man will fully embrace it.  Therefore it would definitely be good to understand just what this proverb speaks about - so that we can be blessed in this way.

Bright-eyed . . . We hear of people who wake up each morning being "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed." This is an expression that refers to someone who wakes up and is truly awake.  The idea of being bushy-tailed refers to a squirrel who when his tail is bushy means that he is fully alert.  These are English expressions, but what we are dealing with here is a Hebraism.  It was an expression that meant something to a Jewish person - just like our sayings mean something to us.

This proverb is a "restated" proverb, meaning that each half restates the other.  Thus this brightening of the eyes - is similar to the good news that puts fat on the bones.  So we can know that the effect on the eyes here is from seeing good things.  What is fascinating though is looking at the word "bright" in the ways that it is used in other places in the Old Testament.  The overwhelming use of this word is in reference to the light of the seven-fold lap in the tabernacle of Moses.  The reason this is fascinating is because of the imagry that this picture.  The lamp was filled with holy oil - a picture of the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit.  The lamp was the only source of light in the Holy place.  It illuminted two things in that room.  There was the table of showbread - which is a type of God's Word.  There was also the altar of incense - which is a type for us of prayer and worship.  Now in light of these things, let's look at at this proverb again. 

What is the news that fattens our heart?  It is when we have the full measure of the illumining work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  When that is the case we have Him opening the Word to us.  We have Him opening our hearts to pray and to worship God.  This would definitely make our hearts glad.  This is the best news of all - God is worthy - God wants us to make our requests known to Him - God wants to speak to us through His Word! 

This also makes wonderful sense when we see what the Hebraism, "fat-bones" means.  This particular Hebraism means a sense of prosperity.  When someone has fat on their bones - they are prosperous and blessed.  It is good news that does this.  Indeed there is a sense that this proverb can simple mean having eyes that are brightened by seing good things and ears that hear good things - makes us glad and prosperous.  But there is also a deeper spiritual meaning that takes us to a different level.  When we hear and see the good news that the Scripture tells us about God - it brings joy to our heart and spiritual fatness to our bones. 

It is a wise thing when a man submits himself to the work of the Holy Spirit.  This will brighten his eyes and bring great gladness to his heart.  He will see the gospel, which indeed is good news.  He will see the truth of God which will put some serious fat on his bones.  He will find himself prospering greatly in the Lord - blessed with spiritual growth - and delghted in the goodness of God.  No doubt about it - it is a good thing to start your day with a quiet time where you seek the Lord - and submit yourself to the Spirit of God as a teacher and guide.  Doing that will truly make you a bright-eyed and fat-boned Christian!

The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29

This proverb explains for us who God is near and the ones from whom He keeps His distance. It is a frightening thing to me to read that Jehovah is far from the wicked. Note that this does not say that the wicked man is far from God - but that God is far from him. Since this proverb has to do with prayer - we are talking about a wicked man and his prayers (if he has any at all). The only prayer that God will hear from a wicked man is a prayer of repentance. Otherwise we can read in numerous other places that God is sickened and wants nothing to do with his praying. Later in Proverbs we learn that, "He who turnes away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (Proverbs 28:9) A wicked man would frequent a prayer meeting as often as an at-large criminal would frequent a police station. But when the wicked do pray, God will not hear. We read another terrifying passage in Proverbs chapter 1 about the prayer of the wicked.

"Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof." Proverbs 1:24-30

This passage warns those who think they can mock God and live with no fear of Him. It warns them that when calamity comes, they cannot turn to God only for deliverance from it. This is how the wicked pray - they turn to God when disaster comes, but then mock Him when everything is well. We read that God Himself will mock them in that day. He does not do so because He is vindictive. He does this because He knows that such praying rises from a heart that is wicked still. Therefore he will not hear. He is far from such praying. He even considers it an abomination to Him.

Fortunately, this proverb does not end with the statement about the wicked. God reminds us that He does hear the prayer of the righteous. There is a twofold way we should understand this. First, we need to see it positionally. The "righteous" is not righteous because of his deeds. We read in multiple places throughout Scripture that the righteous man shall live by faith. He is made righteous by faith in God's provision for sin. He is granted righteousness as a gift of God's grace. He cannot make himself righteous because he is steeped in sin. All he is fit for is punishment and wrath. God, though, has come to the rescue with blood of a spotless lamb that speaks on his behalf. This lamb was a physical one in the Old Testament, but that was just a shadow of the glory of God's grace to come. God sent THE Lamb when Jesus Christ came to earth and gave His life on the cross for our sins. That was sufficient payment for us - and God offers with it the very righteousness of Christ as a gift of His glorious grace. That is why He hears the prayer of this man (or any man for that matter). He stands in a divinely-provided righteousness that speaks effectively for him. Thus God hears!

The second way this passage should be understood is by a practical understanding. God hears the prayer of the saved man who practially embraces the righteous ways of God. We cannot, even as Christians, ignore obedience to God and expect God to hear our prayers. We read in the Word that if we regard sin in our hearts, we know that God does not hear us. Some complain of much prayer that seems to be ignored by God. But prayer that is ignored is prayer to One that we've offended by our choice of sin rather than righteousness. It is only when we take refuge in 1 John 1:9 - confessing our sins - that we can once again be heard.

Our Father is a prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God. But we must understand that He is God, not a shabby version of Santa Claus. There are principles involved in how God hears and answers prayer. They are not complicated principles - but they are principles that are strictly adhered to as we approach Him. The key to answered prayer is walking and asking according to His will. If we allow sin to enter either our walk or our requests, we will find that our praying is ineffective. Embrace righteousness - both positionally and practially and you will find prayer a delight. You will also find a God who is eager to hear - eager to work - and eager to answer.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.  - Proverbs 15:28

Look before you leap.  There is a proverb outside Scripture that reminds us to seriously think about the steps we take, because once we take them we cannot get them back.  Our proverb today is similar to this except it deals with what we say.  One might say that this proverb could be said this way, "Think before you speak!" 

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer.  We should note right from the start that the "heart" of the righteous is what is pondering his answer.  The godly man does not allow his mouth to run its own course without the management of the heart.  He wants to speak from the heart - not shoot from the hip.  The problem about shooting from the hip when we speak is the carnage that results from drive-by speaking.  This wise man thinks and considers what he is about to say.  He takes the time to meditate on God's Word before he speaks his own.  He discerns what is needed for the situation and speaks according to what God wants.  This godly man speaks as God directs in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear."  Ultimately this man speaks those wonderful, edifying words that are like "apples of gold in settings of silver" which are words spoken at just the perfect time.

The wicked allows his mouth to have free reign in his life.  This is a dangerous thing because left to itself a mouth can be dangerous.  We read in the third chapter of James, "So the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.  See, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fireon fire!  And the tongue is a fire: the very world of iniquity, the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, ans set on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell."  These verses warn us in the starkest terms of the danger of allowing our mouths and tongues to gho unchecked in what they say.  When we do this it is inevitable that our mouth will "pour out evil things."  The heart of the wicked man will be fully expressed by his words.  The result of this will be much evil and pain in the world.  Consider how many horrible things started with evil words pouring out of a wicked man's mouth.  Think for a moment how Adolph Hitler mesmerized entire crowds in Germany by his wicked words.  Then consider what the end of his leadership brought to the world.  We may not ever do the damage of Hitler, but much harm can come from unwise, un-considered words. 

Precious ones, God wants us to think before we speak.  It will bring blessing to us - and will benefit those who are the recipients of our words.  May we submit what we say to our Lord every morning.  May we ask the Holy Spirit to bridle our tongues so that they do not speak of themselves.  May we surrender all we say for God's purposes and God's specific leadership so that they can truly edify those who hear them.

He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.   Proverbs 15:27

Ours is a society that is quickly becoming corrupt at multiple levels.  It has been sad to watch our country turn from one that valued integrity and honesty, to one that is moving toward the kind of values that exist in a banana republic.  The frequency of elected officials being charged and convicted with fraud is alarming.  The fact that we watch them use their positions of power to enrich themselves with laws they impose on us, while exempting themselves from their own statutes is terrifying.  That is because, as we will learn from today's proverb, those who do such things bring trouble to their own home.  This is true on a personal level, but also on a corporate and even national level too. 

We read that those who profit illicitly trouble their own house.  This simply means that when we choose to leave our integrity at the altar of greed and the pursuit of wealth at any cost, we are going to create serious problems for our family.  This is for several reasons.  First and most importantly is the trouble that is caused for our children and our grandchildren - even to the third and fourth generations of our family.  They watch as we abandon God and embrace the pursuit of riches.  Paul wrote young Timothy and warned that the love of riches is a root of all kinds of evil.  He warns him in the book of 1 Timothy that some who have done this bring harm to themselves and pierce themselves with many a harmful desire.  This will infect our families to several generations. 

We see this in our current immoral business climate in the United States banking and financial sectors.  Hardly a day goes by now without learning about another failure to preserve any moral foundation - as the generation that watched their parents make money and financial security their only goal now take those lessons to new lows.  They are now grabbing all the money they can - in any way that they can - regardless of who is hurt and what businesses are destroyed in the process.  The courts are now filled with men who set up ponzy schemes and who criminally mismanaged funds.  We are learning that raw greed motivated them to steal money that was not theirs.  Oh, and before we get too far away from our proverb, has brought great shame and trouble to their wives, children, and posterity even into the future. 

We are given a protective against this in the second part of this proverb.  The one who hates bribes will live.  He will be protected against the devastating effects of greed.  Bribes blind those who receive them.  They are unable to see the truth because they are focused on easy money that is put in front of them.  The bribe can be anything from the cash handed to a politician to look the other way of pass legislation that gives unfair advantages to certain businesses or groups - to the more subtle bribe that encourages someone to cut corners and cook books to cover their own greed for money.  No matter how the bribe presents itself it is lying to us.  It promises easy money, quick wealth, a way to get whatever we want without hard work and sacrifice.  But the bribe lies to us - not telling us of the pitfalls and dangers that are inherent in living for the world and the flesh.  These two foes of our spiritual growth and maturity are truly deadly - and can not just polute our spirits - but those of many future generations of our family.  That is why we need to protect ourselves from "every kind of greed," as our Lord warns.  For the truth is that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.  Life comes as we learn to submit every area of our lives to the Lord for Him to use for His glory.  So the next time you are offered a bribe to lay aside biblical principles and values - see it for the dangerous thing it is.  Reject it and turn to the Lord for strength to be content with what you have.  That is the path to life!

Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord, But pleasant words are pure.  - Proverbs 15:26

Thoughts and words actually come from the same place, from the heart.  So as we look at today's proverb, we can see that out of the hearts of men come evil thoughts and plans.  Knowing that the Bible teaches that the heart is deceitful above all things and is desperately wicked, we can know that such thoughts and plans reside in the breast of every man alive.  The thoughts of man's heart were at one point so wicked that God decided to destroy the earth in the days of Noah.  That is how much of an abomination these things are to Him. 

We read next that pleasant words are pure.  This might be a little hard to understand unless once again we take a biblical viewpoint.  Words that come out of the mouth originate in the heart first.  Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Thus when someone has pleasant words - they come from a pure heart.  There are thoughts behind them that are equally pleasant as well. 

Thoughts and words are very important to the Lord - and should be to us as well.  Jesus made it clear in the Sermon on the Mount that there was far more to a man than just his actions.  There were the things he thought and did in his heart.  A man might state emphatically that he has never committed adultery, but if he looks at a woman with lust in his heart, Jesus says, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  These things are vital for us to grasp because they take religion out of merely acting good - and puts it where it should be - that our hearts are transformed to be good at their core.  This is wisdom that cannot be refuted.  

The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below. Proverbs 15:24

The wise will have an upward bound life. That is what this passage tells us. It promises both an encouragement for the wise - that their path will lead upward. It also gives a warning - that the unwise path will end in Sheol, the place of the dead.

In His commentary on this verse Phillips makes the comment, "Darwin would have us believe that our feet are set surely on the upward way, that may is progressing by slow but sure degrees from protoplasm to paradise." This is the belief of those who account randomness and no purpose whatsoever for our existance and our origin. Unfortunately, both science and sociology tell us a much different story. They tell us a story consistent with the Biblical narrative.

Science reminds us through the second law of thermodynamics that we are in a constant state of decay. Things are not coming together into more order and more stability - they are moving from order to disorder. We look at the astounding complexity of life and see that it screams to us of an intelligent design infinitely higher than that of man. Science also tells us that something is wrong with this world. Things keep dying. It is as is this world has been cursed so that what originally was made - is now devolving into greater and greater chaos. Disease, sickness, pain, and suffering are the norm as we grow older individually - as well as our world grows older corporately.

Social Sciences also do not point in a direction that is good. The history of man is not a history of us getting wiser and wiser. It is not a history of mankind embracing new heights of goodness and mercy. On the contrary, the 20th and 21st centuries have witnessed a cruelty and evil that almost cannot be matched by previous generations. The endless wars and evils of our generation strike us in ways that at times takes the breath away. More people have been brutally murdered and systematically executed than ever before. We've found modern ways to exterminate our children, killing over 250 million of them since the inception of that horrific procedure. We call it population control - God calls it genocide of the innocents. The way of the fool leads to the place of death - that is what we know from experience. The way of the fool leads to pride and arrogance as he says there is no God.

The path of life goes upward for the wise man. He sees things as God sees them. He is blessed no matter what situations and privations await him in life. He knows that this life is not all that there is. In fact the Scriptures teach him that this life is just a fleeting breath. He is like a brief puff of wind that rustles the leaves and he is gone. Therefore he lives for God's will rather than his own lusts. Amazingly, this kind of choice fills him with joy - no matter what he faces in life. For him the worst he will ever face is in this life. He knows that things lead upward for him - until the day that he will embrace eternal life in all its fullness. He tastes it now, finding it sweet and delightful to his soul's palette. But how he yearns for the full meal. This grants him the joys of knowing life and of sterring clear from spiritual death and its ultimate companion, hell.

Things on this earth are not getting better and better. They were ruined by the entrance of sin brought on by man's rebellion and disobedience. Things are falling apart on this earth and will continue to do so until the day God brings an end to this fallen existance. Living for only here and now is therefore the utmost foolishness. The wise man knows this, because he knows God. The wise man therefore lives for eternal things. He lives because of His Creator's mercy in providing salvation through Jesus Christ. He also lives FOR His Creator and Lord - knowing that this is the pathway that leads upward - path this cursed ground - into the very presence of God in glory. Oh, precious ones - take this path!

A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23

Don't you love it when you say the right thing - in the right way - at just the right time? That is what our proverb is about today. It is about being wise enough to know when to speak - and not only that - but what to speak when you have the opportunity.

The beginning of this proverb starts with a Hebraism about the mouth. There is joy in having an answer of the mouth, which the way that this Hebraism would read. It has to do with the ability to speak well - or in this case to speak what helps others. When speaking of Moses' complaint to God about his inability to speak, this similar Hebraism is used. Moses complained to God that he had a "heavy mouth." This meant that he stuttered and stammered when he spoke. This speech problem made Moses think he could not be a spokesman for God. God gave him Aaron to speak for him, but we see plainly that Moses did not struggle to speak when the Spirit of God moved upon him to confront Pharaoh. The mouth of the man here in proverbs knows no such problem. He brings joy to others as they here the "answer of his mouth," which means the perfect thing to say in the moment. Whether this is a word of teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness - the best word to speak is one that is in agreement with God's Word on the matter.

The prophet Nathan spoke the perfect word to David to bring him to repentance over his adultery and cover-up of his sin. Joshua spoke the perfect word to the people of Israel as they needed to decide whether they would serve the Lord. David spoke the perfect word to Goliath to remind him that God was going to give David victory because of Goliath's mocking of God. Daniel had the perfect words to speak to Nebuchadnezzar when he needed his dream interpretted. Jesus always had the perfect word to speak to detractors, to those who were hungry for his Word, and to those who came to Him needy and longing for God's grace and healing.

A timely word is delightful - both to the one who speaks it and to the one who receives it. There are so many who come to church hurting who need to hear such words. They long for a word of encouragement - for someone to lift them up. Others who are complacent and full of themselves need rebuke. Others still may need exhortation because they are timid about following the Lord radically. And a few who are long term church members, but who do not know Christ, need someone to love them by sharing the gospel with them so they can move from just being religious - to being Christians. No matter what the need, God will give us these "answers of the mouth." He will do so as we surrender to Him and desire far more to speak the truth in love - than just to engage in small talk.

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22

What needs to be done to make sure our plans succeed? Today's proverb gives us that information. We find that the counsel God gives us on this helps us to grasp that to be a good leader who is able to make and succeed in plans, we do not need to be someone who can do it all themselves. Contrary to that thought - a good leader is one who when making plans is willing to consult with others. A great leader is one who also regularly consults with God.

Counsel is absolutely necessary when making good plans. Our passage today reminds us that plans are broken and frustrated when we do not do this. The word for frustration here is "parar" which means to break, divide, or frustrate. What is interesting is that the Bible speaks several times to the effect that God is the One Who will frustrate our plans if we do not seek Him in the midst of making them. What is even more fascinating is that we read in Isaiah 14:27, that the Lord's purposes cannot be frustrated. This leads us to the conclusion that the best plans are those made in concert with the will of God. Those are the plans that will stand - and will be established.

The second word that is interesting, especially in light of our plans and purposes needing to be those of God, is the word "consultation." This word is the Hebrew word, "sod" which means counsel or advice. The word has with it the concept of confidentiality and intimacy. Thus this refers to what some would call, "intimate counsel." The idea is that of great intimacy with the one from whom you are receiving counsel. Thus we come to the conclusion that in order to make solid, successful plans we need to have an intimacy with God. This takes planning out of a boring, man-centered process - and puts it into the category of fellowship and intimacy with God. If we lack this intimacy with God in planning - seeking His heart and His purposes to be fullfilled - we can expect some level of frustration and a fracturing of our plans.

When we have many counselors our plans succeed. The reason for this is because many counselors will help us to see our thinking and our personal planning from multiple perspectives. This will help us not fall into the trap of our own personal agenda taking over our plans. Another way of saying this is it keeps us from planning in the flesh. There will be enough feedback and counsel to rescue us from just doing what we want.

Planning is a good thing, but it breaks down when we make it too "me-centric." We are not farsighted enough to see everything that needs to be seen. We are too selfish not to see that we need multimple perspectives on a planned undertaking. The wise man therefore surrounds himself with a group of people who will help him see through another perspective than his own. The wiser man also spends much time in the presence of the Lord as he seeks to know what is the best course of action - and the best way to make his plans. This man will succeed.

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.   Proverbs 15:21

All it takes is watching a normal evening of television to know that folly and fools are exalted in our entertainment.  We see them every evening, ignoring the warnings of God's Word.  Yet night by night we also sit and watch them and laugh at their antics.  We laugh even though there are times when the direction of the program and its heros is absolutely contrary to Scripture.  What happens in a nation when this is the case?

Ours used to be a culture that confirmed our values in our entertainment.  Shows like, "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith Show" tended to confirm our values and beliefs about righteousness and godliness.  They did not proclaim Christ, but they at least held to a certain standard on what was right and wrong.  Then something started to happen in the 60's.  Those in the entertainment industry abandoned godly values and things like strong families and morals.  We exalted the anti-hero and began to plumb the depths of the depravity of man and call it entertainment.  Then shows like "All in the Family" arose which allowed only hypocrites to be those who spoke of what had been known as family values.  From there things continued to descend into the pit - as sexuality became a consistent theme.  Now just about any and every vice is portrayed for us in dramas and sitcoms - and often they are extolled as main characters hold to these sins.  All the while our culture sits and laughs and finds a false joy in all these parading fools and their folly. 

When we read this proverb it might be easy to think that it refers to others, but I fear that it comes much closer to home.  The devil has used this medium well to give us ample opportunity to sit and actually mock our own values.  This is why it is so dangerous to have unfiltered viewing habits as to television and movies. 

We read of another kind of person in this passage though.  He is a man of understanding.  This word speaks of someone who sees as he ought to see.  He grasps the Word of God - understands it and grasps what it teaches.  As a result he does not get off the path that God has for him - and indeed for all who desire to know and love Him.  He walks straight - and does not turn his eyes or gaze to the right or to the left.  He fixes his eyes on the goal - which is conformity to the character and the way of Jesus Christ.  Even though the world may seek to get his attention and turn it from the Lord Jesus Christ - he does not listen.  He deafens his ears to the siren call of the world which will only land a man on the rocks of destruction in the end.  He has tuned his ears to hearing the voice of God.  He has learned to be a sheep who hears the Great Shepherd - and follow Him.  Wise indeed is the man who sets his heart and mind in this way.  

A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.   Proverbs 15:20

At first look this proverb might look a little prejudiced, giving dad all the gladness and mom the pleasure of being despised by the foolish son.  Yet the proverb actually reveals some interesting things to us about children and how they affect both parents as they grow older and make choices according to the way that we have taught them. 

One would think this proverb is about parents and their reward for rearing godly children, but it is not.  It is rather a proverb dealing with children - and is a warning to them.  First, we see that a wise son makes his father glad.  When you see a son who is wise, he is going to be the delight of both parents, but especially his dad.  He will speak glowingly of his boy, not because of all his achievements, but rather because he acts with wisdom in all his ways.  You can have a very successful son in the eyes of the world, and still have a child who is a fool.  Many fortunes have been won then lost because a young man is filled with business savvy, but has no wisdom in the way he lives with the riches he amasses.  A wise son, though not rich or wealthy, is such a delight to his father.  He watches his boy make good decisions - to love his wife and his children.  He watches as his boy makes decisions according to the wisdom his father has taught him - both his earthly and heavenly Father that is. 

Our proverb turns to the mother though, and refers to how her foolish son treats her.  The passage says that he despises her.  The word for "despises" is the Hebrew word "bazah" which means to hold in contempt and disdain; to consider worthless or vile.  It is quite a strong word and it indicates a child who is very foolish because he does not appreciate his mother.  He holds her in contempt even though she has loved him  and cared for him.  Many a foolish boy is ashamed of his mother - and cringes when she shows him love openly.  Such a young man will not be blessed in his life, because he disdains one of the choicest servants he will ever know.  In despising his mother like this, he disains his father on earth - her husband, and he disains his Father in heaven - her maker and the One who gave her to him. 

How a child views his mother has much to say about his heart.  The child who is more concerned with looking cool to his friends will treat his mother with contempt and disdain.  He breaks her heart often - even though she continues to serve and love him.  This young man has no humility or gratefulness, which will come back to haunt him later in life.  He spurns her wisdom for the opinions of his foolish friends.  Solomon's son did this with his father's advisors and watched his kingdom split as a result. 

Oh, young man - and honestly, even older men.  Treasure the mother that God gave you as one of His choicest gifts.  Openly acknowledge her to others and praise her before your friends.  I often tell people that when a young man courts your daughter, pay close attention to how he treats his mother.  You are watching in that how he will one day treat your daughter.  When a man cannot love and honor and treasure his mom, you are looking at a fool.  That fool will not prosper in ways that matter for eternity - you can bank on the Word of God that this will be true.  Therefore fathers, teach your sons by your actions and attitudes to honor their mothers - to thank them for all that they have done for them.  Teach them that this is practice for having a prosperous and delightful marriage.  If they cannot treasure the woman who they can see - how will they be ready to treasure one they have not seen yet?