I'm skipping over Proverbs 1:10-19. However, press on the link and it will take you to it, if you would care to check it out now. Mind you, it's not that I don't find a few passionate thoughts in those verses, rather, I write "What about the Children - Skipping through Proverbs" not for the children to read, but for the parent/s. I write to the parent on behalf of the children in this section, with the sole desire to see the bond of the parent and child strengthened. (For I believe that a stronger bond between parent and child can help make this world a far more beautiful place than it is.) This particular passage (Proverbs 1:10-19) is a section I would prefer to present to the children...another time - maybe. ;)
What calls me to share my thoughts to "the parent/s" at the moment is:
What calls me to share my thoughts to "the parent/s" at the moment is:
~ Proverbs 1:20-33 ~
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you--
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
29 since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord.
30 Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
~*~***~*~
This passage, in the NIV Bible at Biblegateway.com, is given the title "Wisdom's Rebuke", yet - and this never ceases to amuse or amaze me - I've often heard this quoted in Church circles as though it's God speaking. (Stay with me. ;) )
First up, a man recorded these thoughts on behalf of 'wisdom'. Yes, I know the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," and I'm not arguing that. And I know God is wise - I'm not arguing that, either. However, let us not overlook who is recording what on 'whose' behalf, as I've seen happen.
We read and quote these verses as though God is rejoicing over the fall of "man", but this is Wisdom delighting over the downfall of stupidity.
I have to say that again: This is Wisdom delighting over the downfall of STUPIDITY...!!
Read back over that above verses, if you will, knowing God is love and soooo loves the world, while keeping in mind that wisdom rejects stupidity.
A loving parent does not reject a child for their lack of wisdom. An impatient, controlling one might, but a loving one does not - unless they've slipped into a foul mood and stepped outside the barriers of love. And in the NT, through Jesus, through His intimate knowledge of the Father, we learn what a loving parent looks like. We of the NT are called to love as God first loved us (1 John 4:19), knowing the top two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40), and the new commandment Jesus gave us (John 13:34), knowing the greatest virtue is love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and that God is love (1 John 4:8). So when we teach 'wisdom', should it not be founded on love - especially when we know we are called to be so radical in love that we're even to love our enemies? (Matthew 5:43-44)
When we, Jesus' disciples (whom, He states, will be known by their love- John 13:35), are to read the word of God with an attitude of love - while remembering Jesus is the living word of God, and knowing that Jesus knows better than anyone the heart of the Father. And not simply read the word with an attitude such as this (love), but to offer it to the world, also - just as Jesus did. How much more should we give it to the children in our care?
Wisdom rejects stupidity. Love does not reject the person displaying a lack of wisdom. Wisdom rejects the guidance of stupidity. Love accepts the heart blinded by it - just as God first loved us while we were blinded by it. But it's so much easier to go in the way of striking out at another's heart than it is to love that heart while not being controlled or manipulated by stupidity, isn't it. It's much easier to strike out than it is to love what we deem to be the unlovable. But it is Jesus we follow if it is Him we proclaim as Lord and Saviour; His name we're walking in before others; His path we walk on. And He loves the "unlovable." Yes, He used wisdom, He has wisdom, and He will correct when it's needed, but He never betrays love in order to do it. Neither should we.
Mind you, in the above verses, even Wisdom says, "How long will mockers delight in mocking...?" So not even wisdom delights in mockery. I don't believe the Father, Jesus or Wisdom would have us mock another soul...which brings me to a new thought:
If you've ever mocked your child then, with all my heart and without judgement, I implore you to repent. First to God, but, more importantly at this time, to your child/ren. Even if you don't have children, but are a teacher or a leader, or are in any place of authority or position where there are children, and you have mocked a child, humble yourself before them and tell them you're sorry. We have no right to belittle anyone. How much damage do we bring to the children who look up to us when we mock them - the children (be them your own or someone else's) that God has placed in our hands to care for?
The child/ren need to know they have worth - and they do, for they, too, were created by God, in His image, and, whether they display it at present or not, they are His heart - and you know it... They need to know it, too.
First up, a man recorded these thoughts on behalf of 'wisdom'. Yes, I know the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," and I'm not arguing that. And I know God is wise - I'm not arguing that, either. However, let us not overlook who is recording what on 'whose' behalf, as I've seen happen.
We read and quote these verses as though God is rejoicing over the fall of "man", but this is Wisdom delighting over the downfall of stupidity.
I have to say that again: This is Wisdom delighting over the downfall of STUPIDITY...!!
Read back over that above verses, if you will, knowing God is love and soooo loves the world, while keeping in mind that wisdom rejects stupidity.
A loving parent does not reject a child for their lack of wisdom. An impatient, controlling one might, but a loving one does not - unless they've slipped into a foul mood and stepped outside the barriers of love. And in the NT, through Jesus, through His intimate knowledge of the Father, we learn what a loving parent looks like. We of the NT are called to love as God first loved us (1 John 4:19), knowing the top two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40), and the new commandment Jesus gave us (John 13:34), knowing the greatest virtue is love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and that God is love (1 John 4:8). So when we teach 'wisdom', should it not be founded on love - especially when we know we are called to be so radical in love that we're even to love our enemies? (Matthew 5:43-44)
When we, Jesus' disciples (whom, He states, will be known by their love- John 13:35), are to read the word of God with an attitude of love - while remembering Jesus is the living word of God, and knowing that Jesus knows better than anyone the heart of the Father. And not simply read the word with an attitude such as this (love), but to offer it to the world, also - just as Jesus did. How much more should we give it to the children in our care?
Wisdom rejects stupidity. Love does not reject the person displaying a lack of wisdom. Wisdom rejects the guidance of stupidity. Love accepts the heart blinded by it - just as God first loved us while we were blinded by it. But it's so much easier to go in the way of striking out at another's heart than it is to love that heart while not being controlled or manipulated by stupidity, isn't it. It's much easier to strike out than it is to love what we deem to be the unlovable. But it is Jesus we follow if it is Him we proclaim as Lord and Saviour; His name we're walking in before others; His path we walk on. And He loves the "unlovable." Yes, He used wisdom, He has wisdom, and He will correct when it's needed, but He never betrays love in order to do it. Neither should we.
Mind you, in the above verses, even Wisdom says, "How long will mockers delight in mocking...?" So not even wisdom delights in mockery. I don't believe the Father, Jesus or Wisdom would have us mock another soul...which brings me to a new thought:
If you've ever mocked your child then, with all my heart and without judgement, I implore you to repent. First to God, but, more importantly at this time, to your child/ren. Even if you don't have children, but are a teacher or a leader, or are in any place of authority or position where there are children, and you have mocked a child, humble yourself before them and tell them you're sorry. We have no right to belittle anyone. How much damage do we bring to the children who look up to us when we mock them - the children (be them your own or someone else's) that God has placed in our hands to care for?
The child/ren need to know they have worth - and they do, for they, too, were created by God, in His image, and, whether they display it at present or not, they are His heart - and you know it... They need to know it, too.