Proverbs 13:1
A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scorner hears not rebuke.
Although this may not be said of another time and place, today in many communities (including churches) it is almost expected that teenage children will rebel against their parents. Many young people have come to think of themselves as wiser than their own parents. Once they have learned a fact or two that their parents did not know, they think they have become the epitome of wisdom and knowledge. They can hardly believe that their parents have anything left to teach them. Again, we must define the scorner as that very familiar teenage rebel with the sullen look and the uncooperative attitude, who constantly resists his parents. When push comes to shove, this young man or young woman would rather run away from home than submit to the rules of the house. In most cases, those parents who must put up with a scoffer in the home, will do their best to ignore him, refusing him the honor of any further instruction. He may see himself as a nonconformist, but this is a false front. For in his rebellion against his parents, he works hard to conform to his peer group, cultural icons, and those that support him in his rebellion. His lack of wisdom is manifest in that he will not submit himself to the instruction of those who know and love him more than anyone else—his own father and mother.
The instruction of a father is more than the regurgitation of a few facts learned at the university. These are the lessons taught by a man who loves his son—lessons which will stand him in good stead through the raging storms of life. Most importantly, these are the life-giving words of the Lord Jesus Christ—the words of eternal life. Sometimes the words come in the form of rebuke, warning, and correction; but always to nurture more sobriety, more fear of God, and more seriousness about the holiness of God, the sinfulness of sin, the powerful efficacy of Christ’s salvation, and the urgent need for an increase in faith and obedience (Tit. 2:4-6). The test for the wise son is whether he is truly attentive to his father’s godly instruction and training.
Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
Wild animals obtain their food by using their paws and teeth. They spend most of their waking hours hunting and foraging for food. But God created man with the special ability to think and to communicate ideas. This makes him entirely unique from the animal creation. As he uses this ability in a proper way, he is able to build communities and take far more dominion of the earth than any animal ever could. Thus, fruitful spiritual life will be produced by godly, edifying conversation. And, fruitful relationships are built on communication laced with the fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and all the rest. Even within the context of the business world, fruitful economies are dependent on wise and good communication. Generally, good and wise communicators will also enjoy a measure of wealth.
“The soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.” Swallowing a running blender would not be pleasant experience at all. What havoc it would do to the insides of the body! When men transgress the laws of God and refuse to walk in His ways, they do similar damage to their souls. As their lives waste away in selfishness, anger, lust, pride, and sin, their souls corrupt like a corpse that rots in the grave over twenty years. Our Lord Jesus pointed out that bad words proceed from a sinful heart and they will actually come back and “defile a man” (Matt. 15:20).
Proverbs 13:3
He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
The words you speak are so vitally important that they will determine whether you live or die. Should you say the wrong thing to a police officer, he will put you in jail. More than one thoughtless employee has said the wrong thing in the presence of his manager and has lost his job. You may claim to be a Christian and you may know the truth of God’s Word better than others, but if you run off with your mouth, you will find yourself in the poor graces of your authorities.
We are careful when we drive six thousand pound cars down the highway at seventy-five miles per hour because we know the potential damage such extreme force in action could produce. Both hands on the wheel, both eyes on the road, the foot braced to hit the brakes if necessary, we drive that vehicle with the utmost care. The mouth is similarly capable of destruction and death! It is no less important that we drive this dangerous vehicle with just as much care.
1. What sorts of lessons has your father taught you? Are you listening to him? Have you really learned those lessons and incorporated them into your life?
2. What are the situations in which you might say things that you ought not to say, that would put you in serious trouble (e.g. when you are tired and in serious need of sleep, when you are irritated, or when you are dealing with the civil magistrate, the sheriff, etc.)?