A Life Manual

It would be very convenient if, when our children were born, the hospital handed us an “owner’s manual” that would outline exactly how to care for these bundles of joy in order to achieve maximum results – intelligent, generous, successful go-getters who are world-changers and just all around awesome people. But alas, that doesn’t happen. Just as well though, because the hospital would not have the know-how to help us raise godly men and women. This is where the book of Proverbs comes in! I’ve often thought, as friends have had babies, that I’d like to give them the book of Proverbs written in plain language, and maybe even break the scriptures into categories for them, and then tell them, “This is how to raise your child. These are the principles to live by and to instill in them.” They may find that useful…they may think I’m a little crazy…but this is what Solomon says in Proverbs 1, verses 1 through 6: The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, given to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—righteousness and justice and fairness—to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young—a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.

Oh my goodness! Isn’t that perfect?!?!

And in verse 7, Solomon informs us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

The whole of the Bible is written to glorify God and for our benefit. But if you read nothing else, you are guaranteed to find wisdom in the book of Proverbs – to find the principles for living. And even in that book, you will see the Savior of our souls being foretold and glorified.

The book of Proverbs is a life manual…one which we should regularly read, faithfully adhere to, and diligently pass on to our children both in the words we impart to them and in the way that we behave.