“My son, do not forget my teaching…” (Proverbs 3:1a)
Fatherly advice or teaching is very rarely mentioned these days. I don’t know if it’s due to other emphases which are considered better than what a man can give. As a man, I understand that my gender has not always been the best at practicing what it preaches, nor have we been very good at giving wise or useful advice. These might be some of the reasons. However, Solomon gave his son some very good teaching in the book of Proverbs. He said, “My son, do not forget my teaching….” I’m afraid Rehoboam did forget his father’s teachings, but that doesn’t mean that they are not useful.
First of all, Solomon states, “keep my commandments in your heart, for they will prolong your life” (v.1b). Again, Rehoboam didn’t listen to his daddy, but we can. Jesus restated the same teaching, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This shows us the importance of keeping God’s commandments. Not only will they prolong our lives, they will bring us peace and prosperity. Of course, it would be easy to think monetarily due to Solomon’s wealth, but I believe he meant more than financial peace and prosperity. There is a spiritual peace and prosperity indicated. It is a peace that finds us at peace and prosperity within ourselves and with God due to Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are at one with Him. Jesus paid the price for our sins which wipes them away. In Psalm 103:12 says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions (rebelliousness) from us.” WOW, now that brings peace and prosperity to my mind!
Second, Solomon says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck…” (v. 3). As you read on, verse 4 states, “you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man”. How many of us think of winning favor and a good name? I’m afraid not many of us. Maybe, with man, but not so much with God. Again, this idea returns to the keeping of God’s commandments in our hearts as well as the knowledge that His love and faithfulness will never leave us. They are to be bound around our necks as if they were a towel which cools us on a hot day or a turtleneck sweater on a cold day. God’s love and faithfulness makes us feel comfortable because He has everything under control.
Finally, Solomon says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (v. 4 – 5). All that we are, and all that we are capable of knowing should trust Him. This trust is not a blind trust, but one that is based on our previous experiences with Him. As God has been faithful in the past, He will be faithful in the future.
Notice how Solomon writes that we are to submit ourselves to God. Submit is a word which just messes with our minds. Scripturally, wives are asked to “submit to their husbands”, and this has caused all types of problems in our society. However, biblical submission is a voluntary yielding to Jesus in love. So, we are yielding in love to our Lord, and He will make our paths straight. Better said, our lives will be in His keeping.
Fathers, take time always, but especially this month, to give Godly advice and teaching to your children no matter their age. They will benefit from it as well as not forget what you have taught them.
Until next month,
Bro. Lyle