Listen to Dad

Here are a few thoughts I had about dads and the book of Proverbs. Happy Father's Day. 

The phrase, "My son," is found over 20 times in the book of Proverbs. Several of those instances are the author pleading with his son to listen to him and to remember what he said. For example, "My son, hear the instruction of thy father," and  "My son, forget not my law," to name a few. This brought a smile to my face, because 2,990 years ago in Jerusalem, there was a dad who was repeating himself to his son, teaching the same thing over and again. People never change. And, there was probably a son who, at least in his heart, was thinking, "I know Dad."  The Bible reveals the thoughts and intents of our  hearts. It doesn't need to be updated for the times, because it shows us human nature. Fathers, read and apply the book of Proverbs to your children.

In Proverbs 4:1-5, Solomon tells his son the story of his childhood. He was, "my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother." We know all about David's  troubled family life in his later years, but it wasn't all bad. Notice the relationship Solomon had with David. He was his father's son. Solomon felt like he was the only and beloved son because of the affection and love David gave Solomon, like he was the only son. But we know that David loved his other children too, and deeply, by reading the heartbreaking words of David in 2 Samuel 18:33, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

David taught Solomon the Bible and applied it. "Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth."  Solomon is a dad instructing his son, and remembering what his father said to him. Just because your parents did or said something doesn't make it right. Many fathers pass on generational sins to their children by word or example. There are many people who come from a long line of fools and are proud to live out their family tradition. Solomon was passing down wisdom. He took God's Word and applied to. He's teaching his son how to walk in the fear of the Lord. Let the Bible be your family tradition.

Not only did Solomon teach his son wisdom, but he had to undo the bad influences from the world. Proverbs 19:27, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." People never change. There always has been, and  always will be bad influences and dumb philosophies that steer kids in the wrong direction.  Whether it comes from another kid, a movie, or a song, a dad has to protect his children. Stop listening to people who lead you to do wrong. We would save ourselves from a world of hurt if we would listen to wisdom instead.

Magical Mountain Elixir

Ladies and Gentleman, step right up, and gather round. Let me tell you about my Magical Mountain Elixir! Today is a special day, because do I have a deal for you! Does your life seem too joyful and too smooth? Do you long for habitual grief and despise the day of blessing? Would rather have continual gloom and despair? Is your life just a little too serene and what you need is some conflict to vex your soul? Do you grow weary of living peaceably with your loved ones and need some unjustified anger in your heart directed to those who love you most? "Ah," you say," now you are getting close to the desires of my heart." But wait, there's more! When you are talking with others, do you find yourself making too much sense? Are you too coherent and your thoughts are too eloquent and need to disable that restraint in your brain that prevents you from offending people, and making a fool of yourself? What if I told you there is a way to halt that annoying little self-check that keeps you from uttering all that is in your mind, would you believe it? Oh, my friends, what if I also told you that besides all that I've told you, I could also give you health troubles! Some are temporary, but others will plague you for the rest of your life! Dear friends, how about it? Step right up to get a bottle of my Magical Mountain Elixir which will provide you all that I've described and even more, guaranteed! Hello? Where did everyone go?

That may not have been the best sales pitch, but it's an honest one. Proverbs 23:29-30, "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." This is what you get in exchange for drunkenness. Years ago, I picked a man up for work. In the house I saw people laying passed out all over the place. There was a makeshift coffee table made of cases of beer, though much of the other furniture had been drank the night before. They were hung-over, sick, and foolish looking. I was embarrassed for them. A grown man, who had lost so much control to alcohol, lost control of his bladder and was laying in his own filth on the floor. His "friends" thought it was funny as they stepped over him. Sounds like so much fun. My co-worker started every workday sick with a hangover, and ended every night in drunkenness. He couldn't drive to work himself because he lost his license. He often drank his paycheck over the weekend and was penniless come Monday. Not quite a beer commercial, but it's reality. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise," Proverbs 20:1. Don't be deceived by drugs and drunkenness.

Just Be Quiet

"A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness," Proverbs 12:23. A prudent person is cautious and careful. He looks before he leaps and thinks before he speaks. Prudence is wisdom in action. Maybe that's why you don't hear the word very much anymore. The prudent man doesn't have to tell all he knows but speaks when it's time to speak and by using his wisdom, knows when the time is right.

The prudent conceals his knowledge, not out of fear of man, but out of fear of God. It would be easy to convince yourself you are being prudent when you are just afraid, but wisdom is our guide and the Bible discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. The prudent uses his knowledge as a tool for good, knowing when and where to lay the hammer down. "A word fitly spoken," is beautiful, pleasing, and valuable (Proverbs 25:11). There is power in words, good and evil, and even the right word at the wrong time can, perhaps, not produce the desired effect. Having a heart to heart with a loved one about their health, and needing to make better choices in their diet may be a worthy endeavor. Having that talk at their wedding reception probably won't be received well.

The prudent man thinks about his answer before blurting it out (Proverbs 15:28). In many situations, you don't have to give an immediate answer to a question, and "I don't know, let me think about it and get back with you," is a perfectly acceptable response. Of course, there are situations where you need to be quick on your feet or the opportunity to speak is gone, but it may be better to think a minute before just blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. Some people have a quick wit and naturally have a ready response and a quick answer isn't necessarily a bad one. The wise can answer quickly because they studied the thing out long before you even thought of the question. But it may be better not to reveal the answer, but turn it back to the questioner and guide them to think it through for themselves. Jesus did this often.

The foolish man uses his words like a four year old boy with a hammer, whose goal is more focused on pummeling anything in his path than using the implement for a useful purpose. The fool opens his mouth and lets his words fly. Will his words do good? Will they help? Will they heal? It doesn't matter as long as he can give vent to what's on his mind. His main purpose is to be heard and let fly the words bouncing around his brain. When the torrent of words is released upon society, there won't be much worth hearing, because the "mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." The wisest thing a fool can do in this situation, is just be quiet (Proverbs 17:27-28).

God is Good

For thou, Lord, art good, Psalm 86:5.

When I was a teenager, a man asked me how I was doing and I said, "I'm pretty good." He looked at me for a second and said, "Nope, you're neither one." I was offended by the first, but I knew I wasn't the second. I'm not good, but God is. It's not just the fact God does good things, but His nature and essence is goodness. God is infinitely (Psalm 119:68) and abundantly good (Exodus 34:6) which means the goodness He shows to His creation is plenteous. He's overflowing with goodness. He is infinitely, inherently, abundantly good.

Look around and see the goodness of God in His creation. The Almighty could have created one type of plant, and made it sufficient for pollination, oxygen and food. Rather, He gave us a variety of unique, beautiful plants and trees. Flowers don't have to smell, but God is good. How many billions of dollars will we spend trying to colonize Mars, when God in His goodness, created a place for man and gave it to us, with the perfect amount of light, heat, air, and water? Not only does many deny God's goodness in creation, but he longs to escape it.

The Lord is good and created a variety of animals, with different uses, characteristics, and even tastes. You could eat a steak, drink a glass of milk, then loosen your leather belt because you ate too much, and it all came from the same blessed animal. Veganism (the philosophy, not the diet) stands in opposition to God's goodness and refuses God's good gifts (1 Timothy 4:4). Speaking of a good steak, God's goodness gave you taste buds. A friend of mine enjoys fine foods and one afternoon he brought home a very expensive variety of cheese. He sat it on the counter and went to the fridge to get a drink, turned around and it was gone. His dog was by the counter staring at him, licking his lips over an empty cheese wrapper. He told me the worst part was the dog didn't even enjoy it. You and I were given the great gift of taste buds where we can distinguish and enjoy various tastes.

We don't think about God’s goodness much because we get so much of it without asking or thinking about it. God is so good we take his goodness for granted and complain at inconvenience. An inconvenience presupposes there is a standard of the way things should be and the way things normally are. God is good to us and we despise it because His goodness is nowhere seen better than in Christ. God sent His Son to die for men who had rebelled against Him and to give eternal life, blessing, peace, and joy to a people who hated Him, freely by His grace and mercy. Romans 2:4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"