Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 163 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.
Proverbs 4:1-9 Teaching Wisdom
Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 163 of our Trek. Yesterday we discovered how Life is Like a Word Well Spoken, or in other words, we need to understand how important our words are every day. Today we are going to return to camp for a few days, sit around the campfire, and discuss the 4th chapter of Proverbs. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We have returned from the Podcasters Paradise cruise, and I have to say, it was one of the best and most valuable conferences that we have ever attended. The small group of podcasters and the high caliber speakers along with the cruise venue really made it a great week. We made new friends, and we have returned with a renewed vigor to make Wisdom-Trek even more impactful and have solidified plans for our next step within the podcasting community. I will be announcing those plans over the next few weeks as we begin to finalize some of the details. Keep listening each day for additional details.
After such a busy trek over this past 10 days where we compared life to various topics, we will remain at camp for the next few days as we dig for more wisdom nuggets that are contained in the book of Proverbs chapter 4. Regardless of your spiritual persuasion, the book of Proverbs contains such great nuggets of wisdom that they can be applied to everyone’s life. As we sit around the campfire today, we drink in the crisp fall air and the smell of the burning wood, which sets the environment for reflection and contemplation. It is absolutely necessary that we take time in our lives, even on a daily basis, for reflection and contemplation. These are the times when we become creative and energized to make an impact on the lives of others.
Proverbs 4:1-9
As we start digging into the 4th chapter of Proverbs, it is important to know that the first 9 verses of this chapter in the original Hebrew language were in the form of a poem. This poem is not just about Solomon’s family. It is about all families. As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children. Even as grandparents, we can have a significant impact on our grandchildren. This is training that needs to be passed down through each generation. As your children and grandchildren grow older, they are responsible for their own children.
Solomon’s family was Israel’s royal family. In the poem, the father does not teach about being a king or royalty. He does not speak about wealth and money. He does not explain how to lead the nation. For this father, only one thing matters. His children must learn wisdom.
We can teach our children about many things. We must not forget to teach them wisdom. This is the most important lesson of all.
Let’s start with verses 1 & 2.
1 My children, listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
The poem begins with commands to listen. The father will teach a valuable lesson to his children.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
The advice did not begin with the father, who is writing the poem. The father learned this lesson from his own father. The lesson is good because it is ancient. Grandfather followed this advice. And he saw that it was good advice. This is why he taught it to the children’s father. The father has lived by this advice too. So now he teaches it to his own children.
The words of verse 3 speak about the father’s childhood. These words suggest a loving home. The father was grandmother’s only child, so he was close to her. Grandfather taught his lessons with love to his little child.
4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
The grandfather began his lessons in the same way as the poet. The grandfather also emphasized that the lesson was important.
Today, many people say that things are important. A salesman will say that his advice is important. This is because the salesman wants us to buy his products. We can doubt salesmen and politicians. But, we must not doubt God’s word. The Book of Proverbs repeats its advice because wisdom really is important.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
At last, we hear the advice. This is the lesson that grandfather taught. We must learn to be wise. As in earlier chapters, he compares wisdom to a woman. Wisdom, like a woman, deserves our love. Like a woman, she will protect you if you love her.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
Wisdom is better than everything else. It is better than money. It is better than beauty. It is better than health. Wisdom is worth more than everything that you own. Remember that these words come from Israel’s royal family. They had great wealth. But wisdom is more important than wealth.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
As in verse 6, the poet compares wisdom to a woman. In verse 6, the poet tells us to love Wisdom. In verse 8, he tells us to embrace her. We should get closer and closer to Wisdom. We shall benefit if we do so. Wisdom will lift us higher and give honor to us. Like a woman, wisdom looks after those who love her.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
At the end of this poem, the royal family speaks about a crown. This crown is not a gold crown or a silver crown. It is a crown for a king, but a poor person can wear a crown, too. Wisdom gives honor to us. This gift is like a beautiful crown.
In the introduction to this poem, we saw that it was about every family. This poem was not just about Israel’s royal family. Every family can teach wisdom. Every person can trust God and learn to be wise. We can all wear wisdom’s crown. Jesus said in the good news according to John 12:26, “Anyone, who wants to serve me must follow me because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
As we reflected around our campfire today, as parents and grandparents, we now understand better that we have the awesome responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren wisdom and the value that it brings to our lives. We must also instill within them to continue through all generations to do the same. The lessons that we can learn from each other are valuable, so encourage your friends and family to join us each day and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will remain in camp as we continue on with our investigation in Proverbs 4.
That will finish our podcast for today. Remember to listen to your daily dose of wisdom on Wisdom-Trek.com, or subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Spreaker, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or YouTube so the episodes will be downloaded to you automatically each day. Please share Wisdom-Trek with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person so they can come along with us each day.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.
As we take this Trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!