A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. Proverbs 17:10
God gave me a wonderful man who has a heart after Him to be my mentor. His name is John Dale Rector. John Dale spent 3 years of his life teaching and training me in the things of the Lord. He taught by precept and by example. He also had his hands full as I was a proverbial bull in a china shop with my zeal that lacked wisdom. Thus John Dale had to spend more than his fair share of time rebuking me for my excesses. Thus he taught me a very important verse of Scripture and had me memorize it early in my walk with the Lord. The verse says, "Let a righteous man strike me, it is a kindness." That particular verse has a lot to do with what today's proverb has to teach us. I am an advocate for both verbal and corporal punishment. There is a time for rendering blows to fools. One of those times in during childhood where the responsibility of the parent is to train up a child in the way he should go. It is a time where through loving discipline (which includes spanking) a parent seeks to teach a child what he should and should not do. The parent is not trying to dominate the child or to crush his spirit. The parent IS seeking to help a child grasp what is acceptable and unacceptable to God and to society. But the end of that corporal punishment is to train a child to be a young man or woman who knows two things. First he or she knows how to accept rebuke from the Spirit of God. This happens as he or she is walking through life and about to make un ungodly or unwise decision. The Spirit of God then rises up within to remind of Scripture, to offer correction and guidance with the Word. Some times the Spirit just activates our conscience and we are smitten with a bad sense or feeling - or we just know that what we are about to do, or have done, is wrong. What we desire to do with our children (and in training disciples in the church) is to have them be responsive to that rebuke - to that warning from within. The second way that a parent and discipler wants to train up their charge is to have them be responsive to people who come to them with a word of rebuke. It would be wonderful if everyone who offered such rebuke were being constructive with it - but we all know that is a perfect world and not the real one. The truth is that even non-constructive criticism can be beneficial to us. Therefore we want to be open to all rebuke. The wise thing is to receive the rebuke and be thankful for it. Then take it to the Lord and ask Him to confirm what is in agreement with what He is doing through the Word of God. Then take what God affirms and use it to grow into all the fullness of Jesus Christ in our character and actions. This is how to allow rebuke to go deep within us - rather than just bounce off of us as we reject it outright. The Scripture tells us that in order for this to happen, we have to be one who has "understanding." This is the ability to discern and perceive truth from error - right from wrong - God from the flesh and the world - the work of the Holy Spirit from the work of the devil. We discern an pay attention to what God saying to us. Because of this we truly understand the will of God - and grow wiser because we have learned to see things from His perspective. The proverb tells us that this ability to receive rebuke and understanding from goes deeper into us than a hundred blows into a fool. An interesting thing is that God instructed not to give corporal punishment beyond 39 blows at any time. There is the penalty of imprisonment and even the death penalty that is applied by the state to crimes against society. But God knows that a hundred blows as opposed to 39 would not bring wisdom and understanding into a fool. There is a point where no amount of corporal punishment is effective. The fool rejects all of it - verbal rebuke as well as any kind of physical punishment. Thus we know that all that is left to us is intercessory prayer that God will ultimately break the fool and open his heart to begin to understand. When I read this proverb, I am thankful to those whom God uses to offer rebuke into my life. Let me be perfectly honest that often it is hard to receive the rebuke - and yes, it hurts. But those who wound us can be healers. Remember that when a surgeon does his work he has to injure us before he can take out the cancer that will kill us. We consider the incision made by his knife a good thing - because it is ultimately working healing into our lives. Remember that the next time you receive some verbal surgery through a brother or sister in Christ who loves you. Those words will bring blessing into your life if you receive them and allow God to work through them. If it is hard to remember that - just remember this instead. I'd rather have some verbal surgery - than a hundred blows on my back! POSTSCRIPT: Recently, individuals have quoted articles from this section and stated that we teach child abuse at Calvary Chapel Jonesboro. To this I feel the need to respond. First, biblically, we are told that if we have a problem with our brother to go to our brother - not the internet - and confront our brother. To date, these individuals have yet to contact me to discuss these things. That should say volumes in itself. Second, we do not teach child abuse at our fellowship. This blog is an endeavor to teach what is in the Bible for the edification and upbuilding of God's people. Anyone who has been to our fellowship knows that in our classrooms we administer NO physical discipline. We correct with words and with "time outs" and eventually with a report to parents. From our nursery throughout every age group our people are instructed NEVER to administer physical discipline. We believe this right alone belongs to a parent. Even then we teach the following about any application of physical discipline. Discipline is about the heart of a child. Physical or corporal punishment is ONLY to be administered in a spirit of love for the child. Teaching and loving verbal correction is key - as is prayer for the child's eventual salvation in Jesus Christ. Any physical punishment administered due to anger or rage is out of line and wrong. The parent is to discipline the child with appropriate discipline - not abuse. In the end the child should be taught - and in every circumstance hugged, loved, and prayed with after any physical punishment to assure them of our love. The idea of a "beating" is completely out of step with what the Scriptures are teaching. Instead the idea of loving discipline is intended.
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To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:6
Here we have another of the purposes for the book of Proverbs. Solomon tells us that part of the reason for this book is to help us with understanding four ways that wisdom will be communicated to us throughout this book. First we see it is to understand "a proverb." The word for proverb here is "masal." It means a short, pithy saying, a prophetic utterance usually in the form of comparisons. If we are going to learn wisdom from this book, we will need to approach it as a collection of sayings that will be comparisons of things. This can be positive comparisons and negative ones. But to understand the wisdom God wants us to grasp - we are going to need to be able to compare things and learn from them. Often we will find a comparison in nature - that has a saying of how that aspect of nature shows a spiritual comparison to a wise man or a fool. Second we see that we will have "figures" put before us. Meliysah is the Hebrew word used here and it refers to a mocking or taunting expression. God's Word is going to use satire to describe some things to us. We will find that the proud and arrogant, the unteachable, the ones who reject reproof and rebuke are going to be mocked and and subject to satire. We should learn from these satires - but be sure to see them for what they are - satire and not a statement of absolute fact. Third we will run into the words of the wise. These is just simply things that wise people say to us. We will have godly advice handed to us in very plain language. There is no mystery to what is being said. It is as plain as the nose on our faces - and is to be taken in the plainest sense. Finally, there are the riddles of the wise. Hiydah, the Hebrew word here means an enigma. These were riddles - and were used at times by the wise men of the day to make their students think about what they were saying - to search it out so as to understand the wisdom that the wise man was seeking to impart. Of the four types of statements used in Proverbs, these will probably be the most difficult to understand. What we have in Proverbs is a very creative book that will seek to teach us God's wisdom. We are forewarned though that at times these sayings will need to be understood in the literary form in which they are written. We cannot take everything in Proverbs at a face value - and come away with the wisdom God desires to give us. There will be times when we will have to work a little (honestly sometimes we will have to work a lot) - to get the meaning of what is being said - and the wisdom it seeks to impart. What I will say is that even when it takes time - you will be blessed by the wisdom offered in this book. It is well worth the time and effort needed to dig out all that God has for us. So, let's make a commitment here and now to search this book and learn to mine all the treasures that are within it. The outcome will be precious gems of wisdom that will bless us, not just for a day, but for a lifetime. Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. 11 "For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11 (NASB)
How valuable is wisdom? You can't find any valuation for it on the New York Stock Exchange or in a bank. There is no mention of it in any of the mutual funds or among the currency exchange markets either. So just how valuable is wisdom? Well, according to what we read in Proverbs 8:10-11 wisdom is extremely valuable - worth far more than anyone in the financial world could imagine. First we learn that we should take a father's discipline and instruction rather than silver. "Musar" is the Hebrew word used here and it means the instruction and discipline that comes through a father's oral instruction - but it can also mean the way this comes through the rod as well. According to other places in Proverbs (i.e. 1:7, 8:33, 13:1, and 15:5) if we receive this we receive life and the favor of God. When we reject our father's instruction and discipline, we receive death, poverty, and shame. In many ways the Word of God says that the way we deal with our father's instruction and discipline will be mirrored in how we receive His in our lives. Hmmm, a southern way of saying this might be, "Take your daddy's talkin's and whippin's rather than money." Might sound kind of strange - but when I think of the value of a godly father's instruction - it is something that is invaluable. When I consider how much I could have learned from my dad - and how much pain and problems could have been prevented in my life if I did - I see where this is worth more than silver. The second statement her is to take knowledge rather than gold. This is the Hebrew word "daath" which means a knowledge gained from learning, discernment, and insight. The word speaks of a knowledge about how life works, as well as a knowledge of the divine. A way to put this where you can really grasp it is that the knowledge God commends is knowing Him and therefore knowing how to life live to its fullest. Now if we thought that a father's instruction and discipline was valuable - we will be blown away at the value of the knowledge God gives. It is worth more than the choicest gold. The gold described here is what is known as "fine gold" and it describes gold that is highly refined and extremely valuable. To know God and thus to know how to live this life is so incredibly valuable. Nothing is worth more to a human being because such wealth does not leave you when you die physically. To know God and how to live will last for all eternity. Next we are told that wisdom is better than jewels. The word used here usually refers to rubies and other highly valuable gems. The word also indicates that these are not raw jewels, but ones that have been cut and adorned with gold and other items to make them highly valuable. Imagine if you will the entire collection of England's crown jewels. These are not as valuable as wisdom. Wisdom again is simply seeing things the way that God sees them and thus knowing how to make decisions that please and honor Him. To close out this proverb we finally read that "all desireable things cannot compare with her." Take all the things of this world that men consider valuable. Pile them all up into one glorious wealthy heap - and all these things together cannot compare to wisdom. This world puts great pride in what they consider valuable. We even used to have a show were the lives of the rich and famous were put on display for all of us to covet. The problem is that all those things are not as desireable as knowing God. They don't add up to a life where we learn valuable and wise lessons from our earthly fathers - then follow their example by learning from God Himself the very things they have sought to teach us. What is the value of wisdom? It is of such a high value that they've not even invented charts that can accurately show the true value and the wealth that comes from it. That can only be measured in the joy and thrill of a myriad of lifetimes spent in the presence of God Himself in heaven. Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4:5
How do you become wise? There is a question for the ages, yet the answer as you will see is much easier than you would think. Becoming wise involves first wanting to be wise. We've seen from other Proverbs that the first step in becoming wise is to realize that you are not wise. That may at first sound ridiculously simple - but you would be surprised how many people miss it. Once you realize that you are not wise, the next step is told to us here. You begin to do all that you can to acquire wisdom and understanding. Of course I know the next question will be, "How do you do that?" That is what we will examine today as we look at this Proverb. If you want to acquire wisdom, you hang out with wise people. This is important mainly because it should move you toward God. Since He is the author of all wisdom - you would want to spend a lot of time reading what He has to say and listening to what He desires to communicate to you. This also means you want to cultivate the habit of being very sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you in the Word each day. One of the quickest ways to move from foolishness to wisdom is to listen to and to follow Him. This means working on the discipline of getting into God's Word every day. It means getting into it with a heart that listens to God. You are not just "doing your Bible reading," but you are seeking God's face - desiring His counsel - and longing to communicate with Him in a way that you have the wisdom you need for life itself. Some other things that would be ways to acquire wisdom would be to read often in the book of Proverbs. This is the book of wisdom itself in the Scriptures, so it is only right to spend time in this particular book. Learn to do a "daily proverb." This is the practice of reading the chapter of Proverbs that coincides with the day of the month. Since there are 31 chatpers in Proverbs you will never lack a chapter for the day of the month - and over time you will watch your mind be filled with God's wisdom. Another thing to do is to learn "the moral of the story" in the history of the Bible. We can learn a great deal from both the wise and foolish behavior of people in the Bible. You can add to this reading books written by wise men, receiving godly counsel from older, wiser men and women, and also listening and going to your own parents for counsel. These are all ways you can acquire wisdom. By the way, the word wisdom itself simply means, "learning to see things from God's perspective." That is what you are seeking as you do all these things. The verse here also says that we are to acquire "understanding." We are not just gathering wise sayings and teachings. We are wanting to be able to comprehend and discern what do to and what to say in life. This word means to have that discernment that knows how to choose the right thing and reject the wrong thing. It has a strong moral and religious sense to it. We want to gain and acquire an ability to see two things that differ (even if they only differ slightly) and know how to choose the right one and embrace it wholly. This involves not just learning and acquiring wise sayings and information - it involves using it to see our situation as God sees it. It is applying the wisdom we've learned to each and every situation that we face. This comes with time and with continued wise counsel. It comes as we do post mortem work on our previous decisions - and on the decisions of others. This is not done for the sake of condemnation - but to learn from what we've done wrong and what we've done right. It involves humility as we pick a personal disaster apart and examine just what made us make such a foolish decision. As we do this - we will better know what do to in the future - and how to recognize similar situations and make much wiser decisions when we face those sitiuations in the future. The last thing we need to do also seems so simple - but actually it is very profound. We need to remember what we've learned. The father tells his son, "Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth." As we hear the earthly father parrot these words, we should realize that these are the same words that God uses over and over again throughout the Law, the Prophets, the wisdom writings, the Psalms, and the New Testament. I think in some way all of us are afflicted with a little spiritual alzheimers. We forget what God taught us. One of the funniest, yet saddest pictures of this is the disciples freaking out in a boat that is being tossed and turned by the waves. In order to move around in the boat they had to step over the 12 baskets of food Jesus just had them gather the day before. They had to stumble over them to get to Jesus to tell Him to wake up because they were all about to perish! Jesus then got up - rebuked the wind and waves - and pretty much blew their minds at the power God gave Him. But where would they have learned this? Oh, from the feeding of the 25,000 to 30,000 people from just yesterday!! But then again - we have a bad tendency to forget what we've been taught. God calls us to remember! Remember the lessons God taught you. Don't forget the valuable information He shared with you. Don't drop the ball that He just gave you! This is not easy folks. If it was He wouldn't say it so often - and we wouldn't blow it so often. We are prone to pride and to self-sufficiency. That is often at the root of why we forget. We don't exactly embrace the whole idea of not being able to do things ourselves. We don't exactly enjoy going to God for counsel on decisions. We don't exactly warm up to the fact that we need to surrender our wills to God daily - even hourly and if it were a word, "minutely." This deals with the last bit of wisdom the father shares with his son. The last thing that keeps us from acquiring wisdom and understanding is rebellion and disobedience. The father says to his son that he is not to "turn away" from the words that he speaks. Our last problem with acquiring wisdom is that we turn away from it willingly. WE ARE REBELLIOUS! There are times when we choose to be wise in our own eyes - and chart of course for disaster in the process. This requires that we die to self daily. It requires that we recognize that though we are converted - we are not fully sanctified. We need to see the subtle workings of our flesh, the world system, and Satan in our lives. Follow these three and you will not walk in wisdom. You will not acquire it - nor keep it. Acquiring wisdom and understanding is imperative for each of us. It involves humbling ourselves and listening to God - and those through whom He would speak to us. It involves not just listening, but learning and discerning what is said and how it applies to where we are going and what we are doing and saying. It is a life long process that allows us to grow in wisdom only in so much as we continue to view our world through the eyes of God. It will only be then that we will have acquired wisdom - acquired understanding -and have learned how to glorify God in the things we say and do. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:8
It is actually healthier to your general health and to your bones to walk in wisdom and in the fear of God. God says that doing these things leads us to turning away from evil - and steering clear of evil is something we should aspire to do each and every day of our lives. This verse derives its meaning from verse 7 - which speaks of the things that will make for healing in our bodies and refreshment to our bones. The activities that encourage this boon to our health are not being wise in our own eyes, fearing God, and turning away from evil. But how can God's Word make such outrageous statements! This is not a medical journal! These are the comments I would expect from those who prefer to trust themselves and the present world system than trust the Word of God. Therefore, I'll take a few moments to comment on why walking in wisdom and the fear of God is so healthy. Peace . . . in a word the benefits of walking in wisdom and the fear of God is that we walk in peace. Study after study has been done in the medical world that trumpets the health benefits of being at peace. The peace that God gives us is far more valuable than the temporary peace achieved by some in this present world. God's peace is valuable both now - and for all eternity. If we choose not to be wise in our own eyes, we will know a peace that Scripture says passes all understanding. It is also a peace that will garrison both our heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The world's peace lasts as long as we have the world's goods - or the good fortune to not have troubles and trials. That poses and very difficult problem - because this world is filled with troubles and trials. God's peace is strong no matter what our current circumstances - because He tells us that all things are working together for our good - when we live for the transformation that He Himself works in us to make us more like Jesus Christ His Son. Sin, on the other hand, is devastating to our mental and physical well-being. David spoke of the year he was in his sin with Bathsheba as a year when he groaned under the weight of his guilt and shame. He spoke of how his bones were drying up - and his health failed due to the discipline that was upon him from the Lord. We learn from God's Law in the Old Testament an entire system of how to maintain good hygiene and good eating habits. It might fascinate you to know that studies done on the Old Testament Law regarding how one ate - how one kept themselves from disease - and how one was to act in sexual matters - is the healthiest way to live. God's wisdom always yields marvelous results when we choose to walk in it rather than walk in the stubbornness of our own hearts. Truly, we will enjoy healing in our bodies and refreshment in our bones when we do so. Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man. 3 Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 30:2-3
I know that at first reading this sounds like the Proverb of the one lacking self-esteem. But if this is your thinking, it is simply because you are too much a child of this age and the deception of its culture. Although we may not see it like we should, this is actually a man who is about to move from foolishness to wisdom in short order. As a result we have much we can learn from him. He speaks with serious lament in his voice. "Surely I am more stupid than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man." His lament is for wisdom - for he sees such a strong need of it in his life. The vast majority in this world do not have such a lament. If anything, their mindset is that they have pleanty of knowledge and understanding. They do not feel stupid! They are brimming with the confidence that they are worthwhile and that they usually get stars and high grades on all their papers. They've gotten the token trophies that everyone gets - regardless of their performance or achievements. Stupid! Lacking understanding! How could anyone be so filled with a lack of self-esteem! Who educated this poor soul to where he would think he lacked anything? There is the crux of the problem with our educational system. We are so concerned about the effect of actually correcting the children of this generation (for fear of harming their poor self-esteem) that we will not do what is necessary to help them see their need. They have a socialistic system that promises them government money from cradle to grave - whether they work or not! They have a government that guarantees a world without problems - at least ones that the government promises to fix. They have a promise that no one will be considered more successful or more intelligent than them (at least not without serious punishment for it). Thus seeing themselves stupid, lacking in understanding, even in need - well those ideas are out of style in our socialistic utopia. This man is on the verge of great wisdom because he knows the great truth. That truth is that he needs wisdom. He needs education. He needs understanding that can only come from God Himself. What he needs is God - and the wisdom that comes from intimacy with God in sweet fellowship with Him. He begins with the statement that he is stupid - more stupid than any man. Rather than have him brimming with self-centered, self-induced, and self-glorifying pride, this man has learned the truth. He is a sinner - and as a sinner he is cut off from the all-wise God. Thus he makes foolish and stupid decisions. He does so because He lacks understanding - lacks wisdom - but most of all, lacks knowledge of the Holy One. Our problem is not our environment! Educationally . . . our problem is our sin. We are not wise - because we reject God's wisdom. We are lacking in understanding because we will not listen to our Father in heaven Who longs to give it to us. We lack wisdom because we refuse to see things God's way. We lack all across the board because we do not know the Holy One of Israel! This world was made by God . . . for God. It is beset with all his working - and works best when His wisdom is applied to daily living. Without Him - we are stupid - and will continue unabated in that stupidity until His mercy lays hold of us and we understand His grace. The man who is the closest to receiving God's wisdom, understanding, and knowledge . . . is the man who embraces humility. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The fact is until we come to the place this wise man reached - we are not candidates for God to work mightily in our lives. When we do come to the place where we humble ourselves and trust Him - we will lack. But to the man who embraces humility - to the man who grasps and deals with the fact that he is not a genius - to that man goes the marvelous gift of God's grace, mercy . . . and the joy of knowing Him . . . which is wisdom indeed! These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed. Proverbs 25:1
Thank God for the men of Hezekiah! Were it not for their diligence, we might not have a great deal of wisdom at our finger-tips today! This is probably a proverb you've never heard comment upon - and honestly - it is one I've not looked forward to dealing with as I do this study. But as I read it and asked the Lord to give me insight in what good it is for us - I began to truly appreciate what these men did for us - and what people do for us even today. The word for "transcribe" means to move forward, to proceed, or to grow older. What it indicates here is that these men of Hezekiah took writings that were old - and brought them forward to a new generation. They took what were old documents and they copied them so that another generation could enjoy them. Seeing the spiritual decline that preceeded the reign of Hezekiah, these writings easily could have been lost - but these godly men of Hezekiah kept them from this fate. Did you ever think of all the Christian writings that have been preserved for us - generation after generation. We have our Bibles because men faithfully transcribed things generation after generation. We have wonderful books because of this same thing. Men who were blessed and strengthened by something they read - transcribed it so that others could receive the same blessing. Consider, for just a moment, the spiritual poverty that would be ours if the writings of Jonathan Edwards, A.W. Tozer, Leonard Ravenhill, A.B. Simpson, Andrew Murray, John Calvin, Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, and a host of others were never transcribed or copied from one generation to the next. One of the fears I have is that we will lose the writings of godly men of generations past because our current generation has such a disdain for older things. We would be so impoverished if these writings were no longer available to us. So, I want to send a thank you out through the generations for those whom God used to give us the Scriptures. Some did so at the risk of their very lives. I want to also thank God for all the godly publishers and printers who might have made more money publishing "best sellers" but who chose instead to make sure that we have the works of our godly fathers and mothers available to us. Your diligence has provided us with a wealth of Christian literature in our day. May we be diligent to pass on to our children that same wealth from our past. May we be the men of our day who transcribe works of wisdom and inspiration that will bless many generations to come. For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 24:6
Waging war - not exactly something we spend a lot of time thinking about in life - unless we're in the armed forces right? Well, before you dismiss this verse let's take a few moments to think about it and learn from it some very valuable lessons. In military matters we see the wisdom of what is being said here. We watched our military over and over again plan their campaigns with great care - and their wisdom was revealed as victory after victory was achieved. We also watched foolish leaders like General Custer not concern themselves with good planning and information and the disaster that came with their foolishness. Not just planning is wise - but also getting counselors who will help you understand things from many perspectives is also good. Doing these things will not absolutely assure victory - but will work toward it greatly. But there is other warfare that we should consider when reading this verse . . . spiritual warfare. There is a warfare for walking in holiness and living for God's purposes of which we should be aware. We have a very real enemy who wages war against our souls and who desires to hold us captive morally. Every day when we walk in this world, we are going to face a fight for godliness. This world system is under the power of the evil one - and it really shouldn't shock us that the world is not doing much to encourage godliness and a heart for the gospel. Paul told us that we should not be ignorant of the devil's devices in this warfare. He also told us that we should take up the armour of God and be ready to stand - and having done everything - to remain standing. Hmmm . . . sounds to me like the Bible may have some things to say to us in the way of wise guidance when fighting for godliness every day? Two things we learn here. When fighting the spiritual battles we face every day - we need to do so drawing upon "wise guidance." The word used here is "tahbulah" and it means counsel or advice - and is used more often for God's counsel and advice than anything else. It is even used of God's counsel used to direct the clouds in the sky. What we can learn from this is a wise man seeks God's own counsel in the way to fight the every day battles of godliness and holiness. We need to hear from Him every day. That points us to spiritual disciplines like the quiet time - the daily prayer time - and daily Bible reading. We do not do these things to be religious - we do them to survive and thrive in the warfare that we face against the world, the flesh, and the devil. If we listen - we will be blessed, but if we turn a deaf ear to the Word of God - we will suffer for it in the end. The second thing we see here is that there is victory in an "abundance of counselors." We need the wise guidance of God Himself to wage the war we fight daily in this world. But we also need to counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ. A wise man knows that in an abundance of godly counselors - there is victory for us. This is something we need to embrace because quite often we face trials and problems that require some assistance from our brothers and sisters in Christ. The "lone ranger" Christianity that many embrace because of the emphasis in the west on individuality and self-reliance often robs us of the unity that comes from shared struggles in life. There is also that word "accountability" that we need to hear as well. Being accountable is more than just calling one another on the carpet and asking questions about how a person is doing in an area of struggle. Being accountable also means mutual encouragement and mutual counsel - so that there can be victory. We read in Ecclesiastes that two are better than one - and that a strand of three cords is not quickly broken. These verses remind us that we need each other in Christ. We need not just a few - but an abundance of counselors in life to see victory consistently in our walk with God. I cringe when I hear political figures tell us that it takes a village to rear a child. I only cringe because the village of which they speak means "it takes government and bureaucracy" to rear a child. That only means that government wants to take over the responsiblity of rearing your child - or reserves the right to trump how you want to rear your child. But with all double-speak aside - it does take an abundance of counselors to see victory in life - even with our children. Blessed is the child - and the parents - who have a church family with many counselors who will steer a child to the Scriptures for answers. That child - that family - and that church will be blessed - and will win the battle for that child's mind and heart. War is a serious matter - whether it speaks of those fought on actual physical fields of conflict - of the ones fought in our minds. The wise man accepts the counsel of God each day in preparing for battle. He also listens to his brothers and sisters in Christ who also offer godly counsel and encouragement in this daily war we call the Christian life. As Peter said, we need to "gird up our minds for action." That daily "girding" needs to have a healthy does of counsel from the body of Christ - and from God Himself as He speaks to us through His Spirit in the Word! Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Proverbs 4:4
Fathers, what are you wanting in a relationship with your children? Now, I'm not talking to the father whose heart is not turned to the Lord, for often what a lot of men in that condition want is to be relieved of the responsibility of their children. Selfishness and self-centeredness often leads men to care far more about themselves than their children. The godly father, though, is clearly represented in this passage. Let's take a look today and learn wisdom from him. First of all, the godly father is involved in teaching his children. It is important to see this because too often dads leave imparting spiritual wisdom to their children to their wives - and to the Sunday school teacher and youth pastor. Let me say something as strongly as I can at this point. "DAD, YOU CANNOT BE REPLACED IN THIS MATTER!" Your children absolutely need your imput into their lives. They need a godly father to impart God's wisdom to them. I know at this point a lot of fathers panic and think to themselves, "What would I even teach them?" How about Proverbs? How about the 10 commandments? How about just reading to them the sermon on the mount? Just read some and let them ask you questions. Listen to the godly father here. He says to his children, "Let your heart hold fast my words." What a great thing to say to your kiddos. Teach them the Word - read it to them - and then afterward say to them that what you want more than anything else in the world is their heart. You want them to hold fast the Words of God that you read to them. Impart to them a heart that wants to hold your words close. Impart to them a heart that wants to obey God and follow Him. These are things that only you can give your chlidren - and if you don't - not even the best children's ministry and youth ministry in the world can replace you! The godly father also tells his children that they need to keep the commandments - to guard them - to watch over them and desire to obey them. Then tell your children that if they keep God's Word - which will be the word you share with them - they will live! Let them know what REAL living is - it is living out God's Word and living to bring honor and glory to Him! Dads! hear me well - and hear God's Word. The godly father wants his children's hearts! He wants them to be drawn to the ultimate Father whose wisdom will bless them and help them to live a life like no other. Follow the example of this godly father in Scripture. Speak the things of the Lord to your children - make this a priority. You cannot be replaced in this role. Others may fulfill it in your absence - but know this - it will be most effective when it comes from you. No one else will have the impact and the power you will have when you do this. So many bemoan the problems of our world and wonder what it will take to bless a generation of children coming up. I can tell you what can turn us in one generation . . . fathers . . . godly fathers . . . godly fathers who speak the Word to their children - and do so to gain their hearts. They gain their hearts so that they can transfer them to the ultimate Father - Who can take our children and lead them all the days of their lives. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 7:3
The Father is continuing to share wisdom with his son - and as he does he once again covers the topic of immorality. We should take note how often the father addresses this subject - and remember that this is a key area where men fall into sin. It is particularly an area where we need to take the time to warn our sons and daughters of the dangers of sexual sin. As the father speaks he tells his son to take what he says and bind in on his fingers. What an interesting figure of speech this is. As I looked for what this might mean I read where Hebrew boys would often take a piece of yarn or thread and wind it around their middle finger seven times to remind them of important lessons in their lives. Here is one where the father tells his son to do this - to do whatever is necessary to have a physical reminder of the truth. He wants his son to have something he can see to help him remember in a time of temptation that he needs to watch out for immoral woman and the dangers of falling into an immoral relationship. the second thing that came to my mind was my own wedding ring. What a wonderful daily reminder my ring is to me of the vows I made to my wife in the sight of God. I am reminded of the promise to give myself to her and her only all the days of my life. I also hope that my wedding ring is a reminder to any other woman that I am already taken in this world. The father also tells his son to write these warnings on the tablet of his heart. He needs a constant reminder of the Word of God. He needs to be reminded that the teaching of the Word is one of holiness and purity. The teaching of the Word is one that will point him to virginity until marriage and faithfulness after marriage. These are the things we need reminders of in life. There is such an amazing value to having the Word of God written on our hearts through memorizing and meditating upon the Scriptures daily. These things will help us immensely. David Himself answered an important question about purity in Psalm 119 when he said, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it in accordance with Your Word. With all my heart I have sought Thee, do not let me wander from the Words of Your mouth. Thy Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." There it is as plain as day. God knows that if we will write these things on the tablets of our hearts we will be protected from sexual immorality in our lives. Young men all know that the battle for purity and obedience to God in morality is difficult. They are far better prepared for this war if they hide God's Word in their hearts. Then when faced with temptation - they can bring the Word to their minds and make a conscious choice to turn away from sexual temptation and obey God. |
Proverb a DayEach day, we'll take a look at a verse from the chapter of Proverbs for the day. Our hope is to gain wisdom each day - and from that wisdom - to have understanding to make godly decisions in the throes of everyday life. Thank you for visiting our website! Everything on this site is offered for free. If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here. The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend. Thank you!
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