Our FaTHER iN hEAVEN kNOWS BEST

June 15, 2009

Our FaTHER iN hEAVEN kNOWS BEST

Proverbs 4

Cristina Petrini

Central Truth

Seek wisdom from God and hold on to it.

My child, pay attention to my words;
listen attentively to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your sight,
guard them within your heart.
(Proverbs 4:20-21)

A Father's Wise Instruction

1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain^{1

4:1
Hebrew know} insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.

20 My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their^{2

4:22
Hebrew his} flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder^{3

4:26
Or Make level} the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

Footnotes

[1] 4:1 Hebrew know
[2] 4:22 Hebrew his
[3] 4:26 Or Make level

When I was in high school, I thought my parents were so dumb. I thought I knew everything. I was an expert in all areas. I remember my dad always lecturing me about driving. His famous line was, "Look behind you when you back out of a parking space!" I remember rolling my eyes and thinking, "Duh, Dad, do you think I am an idiot?"

You see, I had this problem that a lot of us have. I thought I knew how to drive better than my dad who had 25 years of driving experience. Well, to finish the story, one day I was backing out of a parking space and was too busy singing to my loud music and boom! I hit a light pole. The car was dented, and I had to tell my parents. That day, I realized that my dad's lectures or reminders were not his attempt to be controlling and annoying. These reminders were actually his way of teaching and protecting me.

In a lot of ways I think I continue to do this very thing with my Heavenly Father. I roll my eyes. I think I know better, and I make decisions that are wise in my own eyes. As I reflect on these times when I ignore God, I am saddened and pray that ignoring God will happen less and less as I continue to walk with Christ. As my growth in Christ continues, I strive to follow God's wisdom and instruction. Over and over again, Proverbs 4 reiterates: wisdom is supreme, hold on to instruction, and do not forsake wisdom.

Just like my father had great wisdom about how to drive, our Father in Heaven has amazing wisdom about how to live. He created you, me, and the world, so I bet He has some pretty good ideas on how to live life, right? The question I have to continue to ask myself is, "Am I listening to God's wisdom, or am I rolling my eyes at Him?"

1. Do you consistently make decisions based on wisdom from the Lord?

2. Have you sought the Lord's wisdom recently? If so, in what ways have you sought His wisdom? If not, how can you start to seek His wisdom?

3. In what areas of your life do you roll your eyes at God?