Wise Instruction

July/August 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Wise Instruction

The book of Proverbs has wise instruction for people of all ages. Much of its teaching is given by a father to his son, whom he loves. To me, the book seems particularly good for adolescents, as many of the instructions directly and practically apply to them, beginning during that stage of life. The book also presents the consequences of one’s decisions.

There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. A person can easily read one chapter or a little more each day during the course of a month, pondering its wisdom. Some parents have found it a good exercise to have their children write out this book, such as during an extended school break.

Proverbs 1:2-6 (NKJV) tells us the purpose of the book and its effect for the individual who learns from it: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion – a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma [something hard to understand], the words of the wise and their riddles.” Verse 7 gives the starting point of all these things: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”

This verse also tells about those who disregard what is right: “but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Are you counted among those who fear the Lord, or those who are fools? This is life’s most important question, and its consequences are eternal. To ignore this question is to say you choose to be a fool.

To fear the Lord today is to accept God’s offer of salvation, granted through His Son, Jesus Christ. He came from heaven, was born of a woman and grew through the years of childhood and adolescence. As Man, He willingly died for you and me, taking the punishment from God for our sins upon Himself. Three days later He rose from the grave, and in a short time was exalted to God’s right hand. He is alive, and He wants to give you a new life in Himself. Won’t you accept His offer?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31) – this is wise instruction!

By Paul Alberts