Raising Wise Children
Everyone wants to be smart and wise in the way they live, and Scripture tells us that true wisdom comes through two ways.
First, it comes by listening to and following God.
And second, wisdom comes from applying the truths in Scripture to our everyday life.
The book of Proverbs is full of wise sayings and instructions for living. We can turn to Proverbs to learn more about God and how we can live in wisdom. However, the truths that we read in Proverbs are not promises. That’s not how wisdom works. Instead, a proverb is a principle for living that guides us towards what is right and good.
Proverbs 22 is full of principles that are worth memorizing. The sixth verse teaches us about raising children.
It’s true that the most formative years of a person’s life are in their youth. What we learn when we're growing up sticks with us—so we should pay great attention to how we teach and raise our kids at a young age.
This verse is not a promise that our children will never mess up or go astray. Even though this proverb is not a promise, the principle still holds true. If the foundation of our children’s lives is built on Jesus, they will be more likely to continue to follow Him later on in life.
For those who are raising children, this verse reminds us of the importance of discipleship in our kids' lives. We should take great care with intentionally raising our kids. And for those without kids in their home, there is a great opportunity to assist in the discipleship of children within the church or within the lives of family and friends.
Take some time to consider how you can help in shaping the next generation to love Jesus and live in wisdom.
Timeless Wisdom
After being rescued from Egyptian slavery and wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, the Hebrew people finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised.
Though their long-time leader, Moses, had just died, God appointed Joshua to take his place. During this transition of authority, God gave Joshua some wise advice:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8 NIV
The “Book of the Law” refers to the first five books of the Bible—also known as the Torah (in Hebrew) or the Pentateuch (in Greek). Today, we have that and more—66 books of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.
God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. These instructions reveal God’s intentions, character, and heart.
And even though God was speaking directly to Joshua at that time, His advice holds timeless ...