Harken Unto Me

Read: Proverbs 13:1-3

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”               (Prov. 13:1 NKJ)

What do you think you are doing?  Where will you go?  Who are these guys you are running around with?  Where will you get money to live by?

     My son became adamant muttering audibly under his breath, “Don’t sweat it, Dad, I know what I’m doing.” 

     Oh, so you think you know, do you?  Like you knew in the past when your so-called friends took you in, then after a few short weeks dumped you out on the street.  Sit down, and listen to reason.  Then with a prayer in my heart and my caressing hand on my son’s shoulder, I attempted to explain that the friends he was pursuing were pulling him further and further away from family and God.  I shared with him experiences from my past when I failed to heed my father’s advice and got into trouble by running with the wrong crowd.  When we are young we think that we have the world by the tail only to find out that it is the tail of a deadly serpent. 

     How do we as fathers teach our children that living apart from the counsel of God’s wisdom brings disillusionment, fear, doubt, worry, and frustration?  What advice should we give to our sons and daughters, including grandchildren, in order to keep them from making the same mistakes we did when we were their age? 

     Let me suggest four principles to practice in your daily life:

1.      Seek God—ask for wisdom in making decisions.  (Jas. 1:5)

2.      Meditate on God’s word—gain his insight on important matters.

3.      Heed godly counsel—share needs and fears with others you trust.

4.      Hang out with wise people—choose friends carefully.

     How do you perceive wisdom and instruction?  Do you see instruction as a father’s love and care for you, or a nagging voice that you tune out?  God’s love and care are boundless and cannot be measured in terms dictated by this world.  The wisdom he offers is eternal and comes from heaven above.  He longs to conform you into the image of his dear Son.

     Today, listen and heed the wise instruction made available to you through family members that God has placed over you.  Seek wisdom and let it lead you to a successful walk with God.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask you to give me wisdom in my daily decision making process.