Listen to Parental Wisdom

Beginning of wisdom

A couple of weeks ago we started into a survey of Proverbs. We have not gotten very far, but we have gotten some great information thus far.

Proverbs are to know wisdom, understanding (v.2)

Proverbs are for instruction on wisdom, justice, judgement and equity (v.3)

Proverbs give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the the young, and wise counsel to the man of understanding.

Last week we looked at (v.7) all by itself

Proverbs 1:7 NASB95

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The theme of the proverbs: The fear of the Lord is. . .

The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord. When you do you are more likely to listen, learn, apply and share.

Today we are looking at wise counsel, and for most it starts at home from our parents. These days it is from us as parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

So, this afternoon we are going to focus just on two verses all about instruction in wisdom, teaching of wisdom, the application and the results.

Join me and turn to Pro1:8-9

Proverbs 1:8–9 NASB95

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

Maybe in another version

Proverbs 1:8–9 NLT

8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Q: What is the results of listening to parental wisdom?

So, this afternoon, again, keeping in mind most of us are looking back, to remember, and to take application for today, here is what we are going to look at

The wisdom of listening to parental wisdom

The beauty of listening to parental wisdom

The application of parental wisdom

Wisdom of listening to parental wisdom

I think we will do a little turning to passages within Proverbs to get the idea of listening to parental wisdom.

We are admonished throughout the book to listen to parental wisdom.

Proverbs 4:1 (NASB95)

1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

Q: What is the purpose in 4:1?

turn to

Proverbs 6:20 NASB95

20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

Q: In what form is the wisdom given her in 6:20? - A commandment by the father, a teaching from the mother.

Proverbs 23:22 NASB95

22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Q: Why should we listen according to 6:20? - Father made you, and mom, well don’t despise, and listen when she is old.

So, now, let’s pick back up on this, the wisdom of listening to parental wisdom

Their knowledge

They know you better than anyone, they knew you before you were you, they fed you, clothed you, changed you.

They saw you grow, they tried to impart wisdom to you to help you cope with life. They knew your strengths, weaknesses even when you did not. They helped you mold your personality.

Unlike a teacher, counselor, etc. . . who may spend a few hours a day or a week with you, parents spent 18 years, in most cases with you, and even as an adult don’t stop trying to impart wisdom on you. As an adult oftentimes in late teens, 20’s unwanted wisdom, lol.

unlike friends who, for the most part, want to be friends and will tell you what they think you want to hear, not necessarily what you need to hear like a parent would.

No one beyond parents has better opportunities to know what you need more. This is in general for there are some absentee parents, and yes, bad parents too. They may try to impart bad wisdom or misinformed wisdom.

Q: Can you as a parent, a grandparent impart wisdom through knowledge to a child, even adult child, or grandchild?

Their experience

Q: what does experience mean?

Parents have been there, have experienced the things we go through. They know through experience oftentimes if heading in the right direction or not.

One commentator said parents are like military sergeants, they are older, more experienced and battle trained and tried so in a better position to lead.

Q: what words of wisdom through experience did your parents share with you, or through experience you share with your children or grandchildren?

Can you see the value, and the blessing of having parents and now being a parent or a grandparent to receive, and now able to give advise due to life experiences.

Their wisdom itself

By their knowledge, their life experiences they have gained wisdom and are a great source of wisdom to be shared.

Most people eventually appreciate their parental wisdom, advise, oftentimes later rather than sooner, but turn with me again to Pro4.

Pro4:1-4 “1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, 2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. 3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, 4 Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;”

Q: What wisdom is Solomon, the writer, the teacher, imparting from in these verses? Wisdom gained from his parents.

George Washington said “The greatest teacher I ever had was my mother.”

Abraham Lincoln said “ All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

Q: Do you think that wisdom is, or can be, generational?

So, wisdom from parents should be an easy thing for they know you best, want the best for you, even as an adult. And as a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent we want to impart wisdom to the following generations. It would be foolish to not accept wisdom, especially godly wisdom from godly parents.

Proverbs 15:5 NASB95

5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.

There is not only wisdom that comes, but there is the beauty of the wisdom that comes.

Proverbs 1:8–9 NIV

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Their wisdom is like graceful jewelry

ESV says “a graceful garland”

NASB says “A graceful wreath on your head”

Like accessories worn to make one more attractive, beautiful or handsome.

Did you know that children can be made attractive by parents imparted wisdom?

When a child, even an adult one, displays respect and obedience it like a graceful wreath, and ornaments about your neck.

Have you ever noticed and said something about a well-behaved child? A parent lights up.

Children who revere their parents by heading their counsel, their wisdom are made more attractive and appealing to others by such counsel and wisdom.

Q: I asked about a well-behaved child, but how often have you seen, or said something about a misbehaving child?

There is an ugliness to parental disrespect

pro30:11 “11 There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.” - this is not an uncommon thing today is it?

Pro30:17 “17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.” - there is a unpleasant end to the mocker, the scorner of their parents.

May you consider under the law of moses (please turn to Deu21:18-21) but I will make a stop on the way there

Lev20:9 “9 ‘If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his bloodguiltiness is upon him.” - talk about disrespect, dishonor having serious consequences.

Deu21:18-21 “18 “If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even listen to them, 19 then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. 20 “They shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 “Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from your midst, and all Israel will hear of it and fear.”

Q- What are to be the consequences here, and carried out by who? And what is the purpose for it (v.21)?

Children who did not honor their parents were harshly judged by God in the O.T. - think about that, think about today, have we gone too far the other direction?

What advantage do we have today over the O.T. times? Every!

We have the full counsel of God

We have the Holy Spirit which gives us a time of grace, longsuffering and mercy

We have the admonishment that all deeds will be called into account one day and judged.

Rom2:4-6 “4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:”

So may we learn from the N.T. too

Eph6:1-2 “1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),”

One more turn in proverbs, please turn to Pro3 now for just a minute before we close out.

Pro3:1-4 “1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.”

(prayer) (Close)