Things My Father Taught Me Proverbs 4

 

Things My Father Taught Me

Text: Proverbs 4

For research this past week, I read 5 or 6 articles with the same title as my sermon, “Things My Father Taught Me.” They were all pretty good, they promoted good values like saving money, getting a good education, and putting family first. But after reading the last article I noticed something was missing and it made all the values from all those dads fatally flawed. You can probably guess what it was. Only one mentioned anything about faith and even that one was talking more about the Catholic church than a personal relationship with God. None mentioned the Bible, none mentioned salvation, repentance or forgiveness, none mentioned much about honesty or morality. They were more about personal goals, not giving up, getting an education and putting family first. All good things but fatally flawed.

 

Those of us over 40 years old probably all remember the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. It happened on a cold day in January 28, 1986, the Shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The spacecraft disintegrated 46,000 feet (14 km) above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:39 a.m. Some of the most dedicated, driven, smartest people in the nation were on that flight. On the ground were people just as smart, educated and goal oriented. All the right values and knowledge you need to fly a multi-million dollar spacecraft into outer space and back. But there was a fatal flaw in the shuttle, an O-ring that failed when it was too cold. It leaked and that leak caused the fuel tanks to explode and all those good, smart people died and the space program was never the same. Just one fatal flaw and so much was lost.

 

All the values that a Father can pass on to his children can also be lost, if the father doesn’t guard against another kind of fatal flaw. Not a physical flaw but a spiritual one. The greatest thing that a father can teach his children is not about the values of this world but the value of preparing for the next world. That is what we find in Proverbs 4, the instructions of Solomon as he passes on the moral and spiritual wisdom of his Father David to the next generation.

Solomon Passes On Wisdom

1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words:

keep my commandments, and live.

Children, Listen To My Father’s Wisdom

Chapter 4 is the last chapter before the collections of proverbs begins. When you look at the organization of the proverbs you can see that

The first 5 chapters deal with the Gaining of Wisdom as a life’s greatest Goal. We read verses like Proverbs 3:13-17 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Chapters 6-9 personify wisdom as a righteous woman and wickedness as a sinful harlot.

10 - 22 are single verse Proverbs collected by Solomon.

23 - 24 are Thirty Collected Wise Sayings

25 - 29 are proverbs edited by Hezekiah’s authority.

Chapter 30 contains the Words and Wisdom of Agur

And finally, 31 is the words of Lemuel’s mother dedicated to the Virtuous Woman

Chapter 4, where we are today, falls under Solomon’s instructions on wisdom and chapter 4 is his personal exhortation to his children and it is specifically about the wisdom that came to him from his father David.

He begins by tell the children to hear his instructions. This is the first time that Solomon does not say, “My son” but instead speaks to sons or to all his children. What he first says is “pay attention” “Hear children. Attend to know understanding.” What I’m saying is important and you must work at listening and taking it in.

Pay attention, Solomon says, because I’m giving you good doctrine. The word here is

לֶקַח, leqaḥ, and it means something received. Other places it is translated learning, or air speech. Here is wisdom, instruction given but it must be received and it can only be received by paying attention, by listening carefully and closely.

Then Solomon tells of a chain of wisdom that was passed to him from his parents, and especially from his Father, David. You can see this chain of wisdom here in the opening verses, by the use of the word “For”

Proverbs 4:1-4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For (because) I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For (because) I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Solomon is passing on the wisdom of his father and the love of his mother and because of this family chain of wisdom, instruction and love, children take the gift I am giving you and in turn one day, you also will say to your children, “Hear ye, children the instruction of a father.”

Dad’s Duty: Forge the Chain

These opening verses contain one of the most important lesson about fatherhood. It is not hard to understand but it is getting harder and harder to see it happening in our society today. One of reasons that our society is failing is because Father’s are failing in this duty, this responsibility, this purpose that God gave every Father.

That duty is simple to pass on the good doctrine, the wisdom, the learning that was passed to you from your parents and especially from your Dad. The principle here is that that every family, but especially every father in his lifetime must by instructing and teaching his children, forge the links and weld them to a chain of wisdom that was been given to him by his father.

With each lesson, with each instruction another link is hammered into that family heritage chain that extends back probably further than any of us can possibly imagine. And is your duty, your God giving purpose to make sure you pass it on.

One of the reasons God chose Abraham, Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

David wrote about this in Psalms 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

After Solomon tells his children to listen, pay attention to him, he then tells them three life lessons about Wisdom and Wickedness and the Way they should walk.

Seek After Wisdom - Proverbs 4:5-13

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Children, Seek Wisdom

Solomon tells his children, Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from my words. Do not forsake wisdom, she will keep you; love wisdom, she will guard you. Prize wisdom, and she will lift you up; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head grace and she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Wisdom is supremely important, so we better understand what Solomon means by wisdom. We can find this in the early chapters of Proverbs where he describes and explains wisdom. There is no insight in the Hebrew the word simply means wisdom or wise. 145 in the OT that is exactly how it is translated. But we can see what Solomon meant by wisdom by reading his description of what wisdom is and what wisdom does.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. (Wisdom is the honoring and respectful reverence of Jehovah)

Proverbs 2:4-6 4 If thou seekest her (wisdom) as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Wisdom is a treasure that is found when you got to the Lord. He gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding.)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Wisdom is fully trusting in the Lord and letting him lead you through life)

Job talked of wisdom this way in chapter 28 Job 28:12-23 But where shall wisdom be found?

and where is the place of understanding? 20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? 23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

David, Solomons fathers spoke of this kind of wisdom in Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Wisdom, true wisdom is a moral quality. A lesson taught throughout life, that teaches us how to live a good life and it is taught by the Lord who established what is good, moral and wise.

 Dad’s Duty: Follow The Lord

Father’s if you want your children to have a good life, if you want to protect them from the world that wants to destroy their joy, strip them of their divine purpose, rob them of eternity, then you must follow the Lord and you must bring your children with you.

Take them to church, take them to Sunday School, take them to Bible Study. Read the Bible with them, pray with them. Talk to them about your Lord and Savior so that He may become their Lord and Savior. There is no other advice or lesson that you can give them, that is more important nor will have such an eternal impact.

This is how you fulfill Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. You train them by showing them, by going with them. You teach by the example of your own life.

Yes, teach them a skill, and plant in them good values but do not neglect or leave for others the lesson of walking with the Lord.

Now Solomon moves from seeking true wisdom to the opposite, shunning sin.

Shun Sin – Proverbs 4:14-19

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Children, Shun Sin

Listen to the adamant language Solomon uses. Proverbs 4:14-17 Don’t enter the path of the wicked, don’t walk in the way with evil men. 15 Avoid that patch, don’t even pass by it, turn from it, and walk away. 16 Evil men don’t go to sleep until they have hurt others, they can’t sleep unless they cause someone to fall. 17 The wicked eat wickedness for bread and drink violence for wine. It is their sustenance and nourishment.

Then Solomon gives a stunning contrast, one that can’t be more vivid in showing the extreme difference between wisdom and wickedness. Here he says is the path you should walk, Proverbs 4:18-19 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (But) 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness (thick impenetrable blackness, like a night with no moon and a fog that conceals the stars): they know not at what they stumble.

Dad’s Duty: Warn The Ones You Love

There are many wicked, sinful, destructive, terrifying things in this world that want to groom your children and then drag them down the darkest paths or pain and regret that can be found in this world. The only darker paths will only be found in hell itself.

Dads, you got to warn your children about those paths. Brother Russ preached on this while I was gone Matthew 7:13-14 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The Lord Jesus warns us of the world’s wide gate, of sins broad way. Those paths are wide because they are popular, sin is always popular, but those paths lead to destruction, both in this life and in the next. One of the duties of a Dad is to warn your family of the popular path and the destruction that is their destination and point to the gate that is small and the path that is narrow, because at the end of that path is life, a full life now and an eternal life when it ends.

One last lesson in the Father’s Day chapter of Proverbs.

Secure Your Life – Proverbs 4:20-27

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Children, Secure The Future

Solomon once again calls for his children to pay attention to what he is about to say, “Attend to my words, incline your ear to what I’m about to say.” Not only pay attention but also to hold on to these words of wisdom. “Don’t take your eyes away from them, keep them in the very center of your heart.” He tells them. These word, words that were passed to me from my father and passed to him from my grandfather Jesse, these wisdom chain words, “are life and they are health even to your physical body.”

Then here is the last word of wisdom this father gives to his children in this section of Proverbs. He says, “Keep your heart with vigilance, like a guard standing outside the door of a treasury. It is a living treasure, for out of you heart, flows the springs of life.

Then Solomon moves from the heart to the mouth, “Put away crooked, deceptive talking, put it far away” Then the eyes, “Always look directly ahead” Then the feet, “Think about the path you walk so you will always be sure where you are going. Don’t turn out of that safe, secure path, turn away from evil.”

Dad’s Duty: Point and Protect

Here is the last Father’s day advice for fathers from this father. Time to go home and let you family pamper you, or if you’re not a father, time to go home and pamper your dad. So here it is, Dad’s, granddad’s, and uncles Point the way that children should go, because this is the only way you can hope to protect them from a vile, evil, wicked agenda that is working nonstop to take them down another path.

There are many verses in the NT that we could remind you of that speak of guarding our words, our heart and our feet, you know them as well as I do. I just want to share this one from Paul.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul isn’t talking to Fathers but to followers of Christ, but his words apply to Christian fathers and their children. Tell them to “Forget the things that are behind and stretch out your arms to the things God has for you going forward.”

Fathers, tell them as C.S Lewis once said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Tell them, Keep looking forward toward eternity. That is where all of us will be one day and only what you believe and do today will determine that kind of eternity you will experience. So, as Paul continues…

“Press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Fathers, tell you children to keep their eyes on the prize for they are called by God to run a race. They are not here to be popular with the world but to fulfil their purpose in Christ.

My Dad On the Day I was Saved

I’ve already told you that my Dad had his problems being a proper Dad, doing all the things we’ve talked about today. But let me share with you one time that My Dad, Sammy Don Minefee, fulfilled his fatherly role in the most important way.

I was 7 years old on the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior and it was one of the few time that my Dad attended church with us. My Grandfather, Van George was preaching and as the invitation was given we all stood and there was my Dad on the end of the pew and as I felt the call of the Holy Spirit tug on my heart, I looked up at Dad who knew I was under conviction and he looked into my eyes and gave a small nod of his head. Just the way me Dad was and with that nod he said, “Go ahead Kris, the Lord is calling you for eternity. Start walking that path.” Now that was a lot more words than my dad ever really said about things, but that nod of the head was enough. I stepped out and I pressed toward the mark of the high call of God in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Fathers, Grandfathers, I hope you will purpose in your life, to do all God instructs us in his word to do as we forge the links of wisdom, adding them to the chain that was passed to us from our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Teach them what true wisdom is and warn them of the terrible destructive power of sin.

But if you don’t fully fulfill those tasks then make sure you fulfill this one, Point them down the path that will lead them to Calvary, point them to Jesus Christ who died for them, point them toward eternity. Tell them to Proverbs 4:23 Keep their heart carefully by giving it to Jesus. For, as Solomon in all his wisdom said, “out of the heart are all the issues of life.”