“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (CSB – Read the chapter)
Are you wise? That may be too forward. Do you know someone who is wise? What makes them so? Perhaps it is a way she speaks. She just always has the words to say in every situation. It doesn’t matter what it is, she speaks rightly into it. Perhaps he always knows what to do. In every circumstance, he always seems to know which path forward will be the right one. Regardless of what exactly marks them out as wise, we want to be like people like this. How can we manage that?
This past Sunday was Father’s Day. As a dad myself, it was a chance to get a bit reflective. What would I tell my three boys if I had the chance? Here’s what I said.
A Letter to My Sons
There are occasions in our lives
that prompt us to do some deep thinking.
For me at least, days like today are one of those times. As I was preparing for this morning, I began
thinking about what I would like to say to my sons if I had the chance. You know, one of those deep, parental wisdom
speeches that they won’t want to sit and listen to until I’m lying on my death
bed and they’re hanging on my every word.
As I grow in my experience as a parent and Noah and Josiah and Micah
grow up some of what I have to say to them will probably change, but hopefully
not much. As it turns out, there isn’t
children’s church scheduled for today which means they’re stuck in here and
have to listen to this. Well…I can’t
make them listen—when I figure that out I’ll let you know just after I patent
it and retire—but they’re at least going to be in the room while I’m saying
it. Anyway, as something a bit different
this morning, I’ll let you in my head and heart for a few minutes and then
we’ll all go out and celebrate Father’s Day together.
“Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost.” (The Message – Read the chapter)
Parenting is tough. I can say that with confidence and I’m only ten years into it. Every season has its challenges. And every season feels like its challenges are bigger and harder than the season before it. You can’t imagine it could get any harder—or better—and then it does. If you are a parent committed to seeing your children grow to love and follow the Lord, this just adds an extra burden to the pile. This particular burden is great enough, verses like this one are often claimed as a cover for mistakes we might have made along the way. Is that okay?
“Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we didn’t know about this,’ won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your life know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?” (CSB – Read the chapter)
Have you ever read a verse and felt convicted by it? I’ve spent the past several days reading through Proverbs 24. I initially came to this spot because I caught a verse in another context and wanted to write a note about it. Taking my own advice, I read the whole context. There’s a ton of great stuff in this chapter. And there’s this passage. It’s grabbed my heart and mind and hasn’t let go. If you would, let me explore that with you.
“Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.” (CSB – Read the chapter)
It is satisfying to see someone who deserves justice get it. When someone has been wronged, we love to see them get what is right. Conversely, when someone has done something wrong, we love to see them get their due punishment. This is part of what made movies like Home Alone such a hit. A couple of bad guys got what was coming to them in deliciously hilarious fashion. But, while justice delivered is satisfying (and should be so), there’s a line here that we are wise to not cross.
The Nexus 