When I saw this photo on Pixabay, I was struck by the calmness and directness of the scene. These two lions are face to face, staring into each other’s eyes. Obviously one is adult and the other a cub. I could picture the older one speaking to the younger one about life. Warnings, directions, instructions and even an affectionate paw swat could be a part of this moment in their relationship.
I immediately was reminded of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. He was instruction his sons and daughters about life. There is so much wisdom found there. He was given insights into the human condition from God. He was considered the wisest man that ever lived. There was only One who was greater and that was Jesus Christ.
The following Scriptures really show the heart of Solomon as he wrote down advice to his children:
Proverbs 1:1-19 (TPT)
1 Here are kingdom revelations, words to live by, and words of wisdom given to empower you to reign in life, written as proverbs by Israel’s King Solomon, David’s son.
2 Within these sayings will be found the revelation of wisdom
and the impartation of spiritual understanding.
Use them as keys to unlock the treasures of true knowledge.
3 Those who cling to these words will receive discipline
to demonstrate wisdom in every relationship
and to choose what is right and just and fair.
4 These proverbs will give you great skill
to teach the immature and make them wise,
to give youth the understanding of their design and destiny.
5 For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser,
and for those with discernment,
you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership.
6 These kingdom revelations will break open your understanding
to unveil the deeper meaning of parables,
poetic riddles, and epigrams,
and to unravel the words and enigmas of the wise.
7 How then does a man gain the essence of wisdom?
We cross the threshold of true knowledge
when we live in obedient devotion to God.
Stubborn know-it-alls will never stop to do this,
for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge.
The Wisdom of a Father
8 Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words
and never forget your mother’s instructions.
9 For their insight will bring you success,
adorning you with grace-filled thoughts
and giving you reins to guide your decisions.
10 When peer pressure compels you to go with the crowd
and sinners invite you to join in,
you must simply say, “No!”
11 When the gang says—
“We’re going to steal and kill and get away with it.
12 We’ll take down the rich and rob them.
We’ll swallow them up alive
and take what we want from whomever we want.
13 Then we’ll take their treasures and fill our homes with loot.
14 So come on and join us.
Take your chance with us.
We’ll divide up all we get;
we’ll each end up with big bags of cash!”—
15 my son, refuse to go with them and stay far away from them.
16 For crime is their way of life and bloodshed their specialty.
17 To be aware of their snare is the best way of escape.
18 They’ll resort to murder to steal their victim’s assets,
but eventually it will be their own lives that are ambushed.
19 In their ungodly disrespect for God
they bring destruction on their own lives.
Let us listen to Wisdom’s voice
We are the deciding choosers in life. We chose to listen to those who have lived long enough to understand some of life, or we rebel and find out for ourselves just how hard can be. Foolish choices lead to destruction. In the book of Proverbs is revealed how to not be a failure in life.
Let us choose this week to seek after wisdom and stay out of the devil’s traps found in rebellion and foolishness.
