Counseled By The King: The Proverbs Of Solomon. Day 80, Thirty Sayings Of The Wise, Part Four

Part four of Solomon's wise sayings contains mostly fatherly advice. He tells his son how to be a good man and how to make his parents proud of him.

"Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join with those who drink much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." (Proverbs 23:19-21) Solomon says, "Drunkenness, gluttony, and laziness have been the ruin of many a person. The one who isn't responsible, and who doesn't get up and go about his work, will live in poverty. Partying all night won't pay the bills. Don't even associate with people like that."

"Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." (Proverbs 23:22) The king advises, "Listen to the words of your father. I'm older and far more experienced than you are. I've made plenty of mistakes in my life and I've learned from them. If you take my instruction to heart you can avoid making those same mistakes. I want you to be an honorable and responsible man. I want to be able to trust you to look after your mother for me if I pass on before she does. Set my mind at ease by being a good son and a good man."

"Buy the truth and do not sell it---wisdom, instruction and insight as well." (Proverbs 23:23) The truth is not literally for sale, but Solomon expresses it this way to emphasize the fact that godly truth is more valuable than anything else his son could ever want. The Apostle Paul found this out when he came to Christ. He was previously a very prosperous and influential man, but when he came face to face with Christ, he realized nothing else meant anything to him. He said he had lost all things for the sake of Christ and he counted all those things as garbage in comparison to his relationship with the Lord. (Philippians 3:8) What use are riches and influence and fame if we don't have Christ? Without Him we are poor indeed.

"The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!" (Proverbs 23:24-25) Those of you with godly children can relate to what Solomon is saying. It blesses your heart to know they are walking in the ways of the Lord. It takes a great load off your mind to see your children living for Christ.

The Father in heaven also relates to what Solomon is talking about. God has great joy over His righteous Son, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) And the Father in heaven has great joy over all of us who have become His sons and daughters through Christ. There is no other way to make the Father proud of us, for, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6a) The Father's goal in us is to conform us to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) This is what is pleasing in the Father's eyes. The more we are like Jesus, the more the Father rejoices in us.