Lessons From Dad

Proverbs 4:3-4 (NIV) When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.

Here, we see Solomon writing of his father David. When he was a boy, his father taught him. His father taught him the importance of the things of God. When he said - lay hold of my words, he was pointing Solomon to the wisdom of God. We won’t take the time to read on in this Proverb, but the idea is this:

In this appeal the father cites the appeal that his own father made to him. The effect is threefold. First, the father shows he can identify with his sons. He, too, was once young and under the tutelage of a father. Second, the father implies that wisdom did not begin with him but goes back through many generations. It is not a novelty, but is enduring. Third, he suggests that godliness and prudence are part of their family heritage, and he wants his sons to maintain the legacy.

ESV Study Bible

One of the greatest responsibilities of a parent is to encourage their children to become wise, and to point them to the source of all wisdom. And no, the source of all wisdom is not the internet. That may be the source of a lot of information. But knowledge and wisdom are not the same thing.

True wisdom is found in the things of God. In the Word of God. In verse 7, Solomon tells us that his father said this:

Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

This is the greatest legacy of my earthly father - to point me ultimately to my heavenly Father as my source of wisdom. Not just knowledge, but wisdom.

...the real essence of wisdom is spiritual, for life is more than just living by a set of rules and being rewarded in some physical manner. Undoubtedly, in this sense wisdom comes from God (Prov. 2:6). Thus, though it will involve observation and instruction, it really begins with God and one’s faith in Him as Lord and Savior (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28). Holman Bible Dictionary.

On this Father’s Day, regardless of whether you can remember your own father’s lessons in this way, let’s remember the ultimate source of these lessons - our heavenly Father, the source of wisdom - the lessons of life - that we all have access to.

Pray