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Ministry Monday
Instructions For Life
Scripture: Proverbs 6
20 My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,
Instructions for Life
Proverbs is a book of wise sayings and instructions. It is a book anyone could go to and get something out of because we all need more wisdom in our lives. What is missing is putting this wisdom into action. Unless wisdom is used it does no good. It is just a nice saying or scripture we can crochet on a pillow.
This is much like having our parents instruct us in so many things growing up and sometimes we would accept what they were saying and other times it fell to the ground. We were all young and thought we knew better, but as we got older we knew we were surely wrong.
Money and Wisdom
Proverbs 6 begins with a warning for a son against folly and getting caught in debt to a neighbor. I believe the author warns against this because in order to live a life fully we should be in debt to no one. When we are we are bound to that debt until it is paid off. Being indebted can also be a sing we are living outside of our means which is not what God intended. Our family believes that we are to be good stewards which means budgeting and giving as much as possible. Do we have debt? Yes. My husband and I both went to school and we acquired school loans, but outside of that we are debt free, thanks to God and planning. So what is the authors remedy for this? Work.
The picture of work given to us here is this passage is one of an ant and how diligently he works even though he has no commander. He knows to gather and save because he knows winter is harsh. The ant embraces work to survive. Humans sometimes run from work because they want to take the easy way in life. Unfortunately, that is not a God honored practice. God smiles on hard work and honest living. The creatures all around us work so why would we feel like we are exempt?
It is not that God despises laziness, but as our Father he knows that laziness leads to poverty. God does not want us to live there, he longs for us to walk in blessing and provision, but if we don't create good work habits, and a budget it can sneak up on us. Wisdom is needed for understanding of our finances as well as our everyday interactions with others.
A Lamp of Guidance
Looking ahead to 6:20 Solomon offers wisdom to a son. He commands that he listen and take heed to the instructions of his parents. He is to bind their words to his heart and wear them around his neck. Now that seems a bit extreme, but Solomon realizes how valuable the teaching of a Father and Mother can be. Their words can save lives.
In the passages following we see that these words were to save the son from falling into adultery. They warn that a prostitute is easy to come by, but the wife of another man will cost you everything. Neither scenario is good, prostitute or married woman, but when a married man (or woman) cheats with another persons spouse they not only destroy their marriage and family but someone elses as well. It is not worth it.
This is why Solomon says that the instructions and commands given are a lamp and life. When parents or leaders offer instructions it is not just to put their two scents in, it is because they care for us. Our elders should want to see us prosper and we as elders to the next generation should want to see them prosper. If we never offer instruction or never receive instruction then everything our parents went through was for nothing. It is better to listen and live than to walk away and die.
What ministered to you from Proverbs 6? When you are given instructions or advice do you take it or reject it? Why?
Embrace Instruction and Embrace Life
Rhiannon
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