Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this; get wisdom, and though it cost all you have, get understanding. (NIV)
When I read Proverbs, I am a bit overwhelmed at the number of times the command to get wisdom, insight, or understanding is given. I mean what is wisdom anyway, and how can I get it? Once I have it what on earth am I supposed to do with it?
Proverbs is very clear where wisdom starts, Proverbs 1:7 says that the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
When I hear the word fear, I think monster in the closet, get me out of here, scary stuff in here fear. (Oh! My kids would have fun with that!! Hey it rhymes!)
But that is not at all what this word fear means.
Let me use an illustration to make this kind of fear clear. (Okay, I’ll stop with the rhyming now)
My youngest son is in awe of Superman, so much so that he has fallen in love with him.
Every day he asks to wear his superman suit. He runs with his little arms extended out in front of him fists clenched in true Superman form. Every time we go to the grocery store he reminds me that he wants a superman stuffed doll for his birthday (because he saw one in the claw game there once). His favorite toy, Superman. What he wants to be when he grows up, Superman. His favorite movie, Superman. When he sees Superman anything his eyes light up and he gets giddy with anticipation. When he is watching Superman his little two year old body is still and his eyes are riveted (until he hears the theme song and then he takes of flying). This kid LOVES Superman.
That is the kind of fear this verse is talking about. That I can’t get enough, eager anticipation for any thing more of this ONE I love – the I want to know more, be more like, share more about kind of love that comes from a deep respect.
Do you fear God like that? Do you crave just one more time with him? Do you eagerly anticipate anything more he is willing to show you of himself, even if the cost is everything you have? Do you want to be like him, know more about him, share more about him? Do your kids?
This is why wisdom is so important. It begins and ends with a passion for God that supersedes and directs everything else in our lives. If we don’t have that fear, or passion if you will, our kids will never see true wisdom as God describes it.
Our culture defines wisdom as just the opposite of this. You are a fool if you claim there is only ONE God and arrogant and intolerant if you suppose you know the way to this ONE God while others are wrong. Advertising does its best to tell us it is OUR way, right away. We are the ultimate authority on how we are to live our lives because no one knows better than we do what will make us happy.
And in the middle of all this we are attempting to raise up the next generation.
It is exhausting swimming against the current of our culture. The moment we stop, we slide backward. But what would happen if so many people started to swim against the current that the current itself changed? What if the children my generation raises are men and women who fear the Lord? What if they become men and women of integrity, generosity, self-discipline and are hard working, sincere, loyal, content, kind, and humble?
We have to rise up and be the agents of change. We only have one opportunity to raise our children. I pray that you will make the most of every day you have with them model for your children the kind of fear and wisdom found in Proverbs.
Proverbs For Life is developing ways to take the abstract concepts in Proverbs and make them real to you and your children…click here to start now.