Daily Wisdom, Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6

There is a lot here, but it continues with the instructions from father to son. There are five key teachings found in this proverb. He begins by telling his son that if he is caught in his words to humble himself. If something he has said has snared him he must make it right immediatly. It is a crucial lesson that many of us have missed out on. We never deal with things, we allow our pride to keep us from correcting our errors and many things can be ruined.

"Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? when will you arise from your sleep? 'A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest' - your poverty will come in like a vagabond and you need like an armed man" (verses 6-11).

Here we see the father teaching his son the lesson of work. It is part of life. In the beginning, even before the fall, man was given a job to do. There is something so rewarding, and even refreshing, about a hard days work. And without work, we have nothing. Without work there is no income. Without work there is no respect from others. Without work you contribute nothing, and become a sluggard. The father warns his son against this, and teaches him the value of work.

"A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who points with his fingers; who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, who spreads strife. Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing" (verses 12-15).

The farther points out the characteristics of the worthless man. One who is perverse in speack, flatering with the eyes, leading others astray and pointing fingers away from himeslf. He plans and plots evil while spreading conflict and discord. He will come to calamity and there will be no relief. What father wants their son to end up like this? He warns him so he is prepared and able to avoid it.

"There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a flase witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers" (verses 16-19).

All of these go against God's plan for His creation. Pride, dishonesty, murder, plans and actions of wickeness and evil, those who spread lies and those who cuase division. God created us for community and relationships and all of these things destroy them. God hates division, He hates when life is ended and character destroyed falsely. The father points his son in the direction of righteousness, and sets his feet on the path.

The proverb ends with the father reminding his son of the threats of the adultress. The one who gives into the adultress will not go unpunished. There are consequences to every action and sin, and sin will not go unpunished. God, the standard of holiness and righteousness, cannot tolerate sin. He will destroy sin, and those who give into it will be punished as well.

Point your children in the way of righteousness. Teach them the value of work and honesty. Teach them to have humility and integrity.

"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you