To be a parent is to be a teacher. Have times of both organized and organic Biblical learning in your home. This isn’t novel stuff, but simple steps in accomplishing a miraculous source in the life of our children, cultivating the Word of God to keep them walking in the wisdom of God.

One of the greatest gifts my father ever gave me was the treasure of Proverbs. He challenged my older brother and I to read the book ten times over the summer and be ready to discuss it when school started up again, which would’ve been my brother’s junior and my sophomore year of high school. The words of wisdom and warnings of folly regularly ring in my heart because of my father’s intentional wisdom to immerse us in the book.

Proverbs helpfully addresses significant specific topics, true friendship, hard work, the pursuit of a spouse, wise speech, foolish sexuality, and beyond. It’s immensely practical and life-giving but foreboding and enigmatic. Yet in its most basic form, it’s a parenting book, and even more specifically, it’s a book on fatherhood. It is powerful paternal poetry.

The phrase “my son” or a similar phrase appears approximately 25 times in the book. The paternal instruction is primarily given by Solomon, but not exclusively. The book aims to make little children into wise adults. We should live in this book, for by it, our children may live.

Important Clarification

Bear in mind this is wisdom literature not didactic doctrine. Therefore, we should read Proverbs as probabilities not promises. This doesn’t mean Proverbs is a lesser tier of Scripture, merely different in genre and intent.

I have been asked, usually related to the discipline passages (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 29:15 eg.), if this doesn’t guarantee success, is applying Proverbs necessary or even relevant? Counter question, if this is God’s wisdom to you, why would you want to do it any other way? If this is God’s wisdom to us it is our folly to reject it.

Instructional Parents

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (Proverbs 1:8)

Note the roles in the verse. The son is the listener and mom and dad are apparently giving instruction worthy of attention. This means fundamentally that a wise home is characterized by teachable children and teaching parents.

Let’s talk teaching. Are you teaching your little ones, or merely telling? Teaching here involves the why and basis for the wisdom (note the preceding verses 1-7). Telling is concerned with the command and result, but teaching is concerned with the command and motivation. Wise parents are teaching parents.

How then do we teach this wisdom? To teach the wisdom of God we must teach them the Word of God.

Can I give you two categories for teaching the Word in your home?

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