Joyful Home-Part 2

Before we dive into the how to of raising children we need to gain some helpful Biblical foundations.

Proverbs 1:20-33 says Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Notice that Wisdom is crying out. We often make such a big deal about the wise man, whether he is a pastor, an author or the Dalai Lama. We think wisdom is so difficult to find and to hold onto that it is out of reach for the common man. Of course, this is not true. The Scriptures tell us that wisdom is crying out. She is yelling into the mean streets for someone to hear her. She earnestly desires that someone would heed so that she could impart her riches.

The point here is that Wisdom can and ought to be found. The sad fact is that many, especially the young and foolish disdain Wisdom and follow after their own selfish desires. But we must remember that Wisdom is crying out and our job is to have ears to hear and hearts to obey. Wisdom is near you. Listen.

Contrast Wisdom’s plea above, and the seeming response of fools, to the Wisdom gained by the Proverbs 31 woman.

Prov 31:26-31 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

What is the difference? Why does one gain Wisdom and another disdain it? Of course, we can get into complex and often obtuse theological discussions about the divine election and the sovereignty of God but the plain facts are much simpler. One listened to the voice of Wisdom, the other ignored her. As a Christian parent, your job is to hear and heed Wisdom.