Advice from Parent to Child

Have you ever noticed that, as well as being a valuable instruction for life, the book of Proverbs is, at least in the first several chapters, a series of advice from parent to child?

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching . . .(Proverbs 1:8 NIV)"

What were some of the instructions that God inspired this ancient king to pass on to his children, and what can we learn from these instructions?

First, the foundation: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. . ." (Proverbs 1:7 NIV)

Without a proper reverence for God, and the submission to the fact that God is God (and I am not) all the accumulation of facts in this world will not make one wise. In fact, the Hebrew word for "fool" (eviyl) means a person who is arrogant, flippant, course and callous. This person thinks he knows better than; he thinks he's got it all together without anyone's help. He (or she) can be as "crude and rude" and unfeeling as they want, because "I" is the most important letter in the alphabet.

Here are some questions I have asked myself as I ponder this statement:

When I read God's Word, and see a command in clear black and white (or red and white, if I'm reading a 'red letter edition') but decide that it's too difficult to obey or that I just don't want to. . . am I acquiring wisdom and knowledge, or am I being an arrogant fool, being my own god?

When I treat others rudely, or dismiss their concerns as "being whiny babies" or just ignore and walk away because I'm too tired or not in the mood or I've put in enough time already. . . am I fearing the Lord who made these people and put them in my path and loves them so much He sent His Son to die for them, or am I being a callous fool who looks no further than my own selfish desires?

When I put on a "spiritual mask" and pretend before others that I have it all together and don't need anyone's help or encouragement to be an obedient bondslave; when I refuse to be honest and accountable to my church family; when I refuse to accept help from those who desire to minister because I don't want to "feel obliged" to them. . . am I fearing the Lord, or am I being an arrogant fool who doesn't need anyone, including God?

I really don't want to be a fool! I really desire and long for God's wisdom! I'm a hopeless mess until I bow my knee and surrender to my Sovereign, my King, my God!