Proverbs 4 - A Father's Wise Advice

Good Afternoon Girls!

We survived the dentist - all three kids went and all three kids did pretty good. The four year shined and did everything by himself - xrays, cleaning, visiting with the dentist. The two year old was not sure about the whole thing - she was bribed to get xrays with a 'dora' sticker, she was bribed to open her mouth with a princess toothbrush and was bribed to visit with the dentist for a 'pink' balloon. The one year was thrilled to have all the attention - he let the dentist count his teeth, examine his gums and feel around in there. Overall we came away with a good report and a VERY FRIENDLY REMINDER - no juice and no gummy things! She actually said that if they need a treat - CHOCOLATE IS BEST! I love her!

Today we look at Proverbs 4 - a Father's Wise Advice to his son. Remember that even though it is written to a 'son' it is applicable to a 'daughter'. Don't forget that we are all 'daughters' of our parents and our our Heavenly Father. It is also very applicable for parents!

Proverbs 4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

My Thoughts and Take-aways:
I love how it starts out in verse 1 'when your father corrects you' - knowing that we will all make mistakes. Disciplining and correcting our children is the way of the Lord. He knew we would stumble. Wise people will be able to navigate life's difficulties wisely because we have God in our hearts and he is our guide. We continue to see 'wisdom' personified as a woman. We are taught that wisdom often (thought not always) brings prosperity. A crown is mentioned as a reward from wisdom. The Lord lays two paths in front of his children (us) and whole heartily encourages us not to choose evil (in anyway). The wise will continue on a straight path and the foolish will have a crooked path. The wise will reach their goals more quickly and efficiently. We are to stay away from (walk away) from evil. We are commanded to listen and to pay attention to these lessons as they will change our hearts. The heart is our center where emotions, thinking and reasoning begin and where the HOLY SPIRIT dwells in us. SO if our words originate in our hearts, we should always avoid corrupt or perverse language.

So we teach our kids to 'walk away'. It is something that the school Jack attended as a baby taught and it has stuck. We teach them to walk away from conflict, from frustration, from anything that may lead them down a wrong path (ie. to hit, bite, yell, etc). Now, I do not claim to have mastered this and if you had been here during lunch today you would know that! But its part of our discipline pattern. This set of scriptures reminds of that principal. It teaches us to turn and 'walk away' from evil. Verse 24 commands us to "avoid all perverse talk; to stay away from corrupt speech." So we should 'walk away' from gossip, cursing, blasphemy, etc. I am starting to feel convicted about the shows I may be watching and the songs I may be listening to. In verse 27 God tells us "Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil." We are continually told in scripture to 'walk away'. It reminds us that our heart is the center and our command center.

So I leave with the questions:
(1) What in your life do you need to 'walk away' from....

(2) What is your heart telling you right now?

Leave your comments - this is getting fun!

Love to all!
M