PARENTHOOD a divine stewardship Volume 5 Issue 1January 2000
4. The Personified Wisdom of God Being Christ as Its Reality In the New Testament the personified wisdom of God is Christ as its reality. First Corinthians 1:24 says, "To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Verse 30 continues, "Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption." III. HONORING ONE'S PARENTS he third nugget, the third principle, is the honoring of one's parents. After God, we should respect our parents, having regard for them, honoring them, and obeying them. Honoring our parents will prolong our days. Revering God and honoring one's parents are mentioned together in Proverbs. In the Ten Commandments the first four, concerning God, and the fifth, concerning honoring our parents, are on the first of the two tablets. This indicates that our parents are ranked with God. To honor our parents is to remember our source. Ultimately, if we trace back to our source, we will reach God. Therefore, to honor one's parents is nearly equal to revering God. If we revere God, we will honor our parents. A. Hearing the Instruction of Our Father We should hear the instruction of our father and not reject the teaching of our mother; for they will be a wreath of grace for our head and ornaments for our neck (Prov. 1:8-9). B. Receiving Our Father's Words and Treasuring Up His Commandments within Us We should receive our father's words and treasure up his commandments within us, making our ear attentive to wisdom and inclining our heart to understanding.	Indeed, if we cry out for discernment and lift up our voice for understanding and if we seek her like silver and search for her like hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God. For Jehovah gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (2:1-6). C. Not Forgetting Our Father's Instruction Proverbs 3:1 and 2 charge us not to forget our father's instruction but to let our heart keep his commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace will they add to us. Here longevity and peace are related to honoring our parents. Verse 4 goes on to speak of our finding favor and a reputation for fine understanding in the sight of God and man. In verse 5 we are told to trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding. We should not despise the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of His discipline; for whom Jehovah loves He disciplines (vv. 11-12)…. D. Hearing and Receiving Our Father's Words The writer says in 4:3 that he was a son to his father, tender and the only beloved in the sight of his mother.In verses 10 through 13 he says, "Hear, my son, and receive my words, / And the years of your life will be many. / I have taught you in the way of wisdom; / I have led you in the paths of uprightness. / When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; / And when you run, you will not stumble. / Take hold of instruction; do not let go; / Guard her, for she is your life." Verses 20 through 22 say, "Be attentive to my words; / Incline your ear to my sayings. / Do not let them depart from your sight; / Keep them in the midst of your heart. / For they are life to those who find them, / And healing to all their flesh."	E. Listening to Our Father Proverbs 8:32, 34-35 say, "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me; / For blessed are they who keep my ways.... Blessed is the man who listens to me, / Watching daily at my doors, / Waiting at my doorposts. / For whoever finds me finds life, And will obtain favor from Jehovah." F. A Wise Son Making a Father Glad A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother (10:1). G. The Mocking Eye Being Plucked Out by Ravens The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it (30:17, 11). This is a serious warning regarding the honoring of our parents. Witness Lee, Life-Study of Proverbs, Message #3, pp. 7-14 APPLICATION What virtues are included in revering God and how might you apply these principles to the training of your children? Name some ways in which you might instill into your children their need to always seek the wisdom of God. Why do we say that to honor one's parents is nearly equal to revering God? How will you convey this to your children?

PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

Volume 5 Issue 1January 2000

4. The Personified Wisdom of God Being Christ as Its Reality

In the New Testament the personified wisdom of God is Christ as its reality. First Corinthians 1:24 says, "To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Verse 30 continues, "Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption."

III. HONORING ONE'S PARENTS

he third nugget, the third principle, is the honoring of one's parents. After God, we should respect our parents, having regard for them, honoring them, and obeying them. Honoring our parents will prolong our days.

Revering God and honoring one's parents are mentioned together in Proverbs. In the Ten Commandments the first four, concerning God, and the fifth, concerning honoring our parents, are on the first of the two tablets. This indicates that our parents are ranked with God. To honor our parents is to remember our source. Ultimately, if we trace back to our source, we will reach God. Therefore, to honor one's parents is nearly equal to revering God. If we revere God, we will honor our parents.

A. Hearing the Instruction of Our Father

We should hear the instruction of our father and not reject the teaching of our mother; for they will be a wreath of grace for our head and ornaments for our neck (Prov. 1:8-9).

B. Receiving Our Father's Words and Treasuring Up His Commandments within Us

We should receive our father's words and treasure up his commandments within us, making our ear attentive to wisdom and inclining our heart to understanding.

Indeed, if we cry out for discernment and lift up our voice for understanding and if we seek her like silver and search for her like hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God. For Jehovah gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (2:1-6).

C. Not Forgetting Our Father's Instruction

Proverbs 3:1 and 2 charge us not to forget our father's instruction but to let our heart keep his commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace will they add to us. Here longevity and peace are related to honoring our parents. Verse 4 goes on to speak of our finding favor and a reputation for fine understanding in the sight of God and man. In verse 5 we are told to trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding. We should not despise the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of His discipline; for whom Jehovah loves He disciplines (vv. 11-12)….

D. Hearing and Receiving Our Father's Words

The writer says in 4:3 that he was a son to his father, tender and the only beloved in the sight of his mother.In verses 10 through 13 he says, "Hear, my son, and receive my words, / And the years of your life will be many. / I have taught you in the way of wisdom; / I have led you in the paths of uprightness. / When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; / And when you run, you will not stumble. / Take hold of instruction; do not let go; / Guard her, for she is your life." Verses 20 through 22 say, "Be attentive to my words; / Incline your ear to my sayings. / Do not let them depart from your sight; / Keep them in the midst of your heart. / For they are life to those who find them, / And healing to all their flesh."

E. Listening to Our Father

Proverbs 8:32, 34-35 say, "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me; / For blessed are they who keep my ways.... Blessed is the man who listens to me, / Watching daily at my doors, / Waiting at my doorposts. / For whoever finds me finds life, And will obtain favor from Jehovah."

F. A Wise Son Making a Father Glad

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother (10:1).

G. The Mocking Eye Being Plucked Out by Ravens

The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it (30:17, 11). This is a serious warning regarding the honoring of our parents.

Witness Lee, Life-Study of Proverbs, Message #3, pp. 7-14

APPLICATION

What virtues are included in revering God and how might you apply these principles to the training of your children?

Name some ways in which you might instill into your children their need to always seek the wisdom of God.

Why do we say that to honor one's parents is nearly equal to revering God? How will you convey this to your children?

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