The Book of Proverbs was written to give “prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young” and to make the wise even wiser.

Since I was in college, the Proverbs have been a daily source of practical encouragement.  Taking the 31 chapters of Proverbs, one chapter for each day of the month, they become words that we can apply to situations and challenges that come every day.

Let me encourage you to give the Proverbs the opportunity to strengthen your everyday life.  It only takes 5 minutes or less to read the chapter for each day, and will produce a real and tangible harvest of wisdom in your life.

Proverbs 3: 13-14

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.

One of the most rewarding feelings a parent can ever have is to see their children make wise decisions.

Let these verses from the book of Proverbs encourage you toward raising Godly children and developing a home environment that is free from strive and confusion.

Proverbs 10:1 says “Wise children bring joy to their father…” and verse 5 talks about “the blessings of a prudent son…”

Proverbs 23:22-25 is a descriptive passage of the benefits of obedient children.

“22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.

25 May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice!”

God’s well-ordered plan for our homes is to have children who are obedient and respectful, and, as a result, moms and dads that are joyful and glad.

Scott Stanley, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at The University of Denver, offers five tips to help couples strengthen their marriages:

1. Approach marriage like you would a long-term financial investment. Marriages that thrive are those in which people continue to make deposits.

2. Develop with your partner a mutual sense of the future. Take the idea of forever as a given, not an option. Don’t threaten it by bringing up divorce or separation.

3. Make your marriage a priority. Everyone is busy, but too often the things that matter most are pushed to the background or taken for granted in favor of the most pressing need.

4. Sacrifice in little ways. That means both partners. Do something your spouse enjoys but that you ordinarily would not choose.

5. Find time to talk regularly as friends. Conversations between spouses often are dominated by issues and problems. Just enjoy each other’s company.

Investments like these will reap a successful return in your marriage.

Proverbs 9:1 says that “Wisdom has built her house;”

Both wisdom and folly have a house, and all of our children are invited to visit. 

Our kids, throughout their time in our home, will be faced with a barrage of choices.  At that moment, it’s not just choosing between right and wrong, but it’s the ability to put into practice what they’ve been taught.

Jesus taught us in Matthew 7 that having a house that is built upon the rock, or a house built on sand depends completely upon what we do with God’s Word. 

Parents can help their children to have secure, stable lives by teaching them to become doers of God’s Word at home.

The Bible talks a lot about the wise person. A wise person loves wisdom.

Psalm 1:2 says the wise person loves God’s law.  He is always thinking about it.’ He meditates on it day and night.

The wise person always wants to learn more.  He is never too tired to think about wisdom.

Even a wise person makes mistakes, but the difference between a wise person and a foolish person is the wise person loves correction.

Proverbs 9:8 says, ‘Show a wise man how he is wrong!  He will love you for your correction.’

According to Proverbs 9:9, The wise person even WANTS you to teach him.  ‘Teach a wise man and he will become still wiser.’

It’s interesting to note that the Bible doesn’t just say the wise CHILD, it says the wise PERSON.

We can all learn more.  We can all grow in knowledge.  The Bible teaches us God’s wisdom.

Great kids who love God and love people don’t just happen.

It has always been important to us to have children who are good communicators. You know, the kind of kids who could walk in a room and carry on a conversation with anyone and everyone. Kids who would have enough confidence and respect to visit with older people rather than ignore them.

It’s important to train your children how to make eye contact, give a good firm handshake, introduce themselves, and interact with people. Teach them how to show an interest in others rather than just talking about themselves.

When you’re driving in the car with your children, it’s more productive to visit with them than to listen to music or talk on your cell phone. Use every opportunity you have to communicate with your kids.

If you will talk to them when they are little, they will talk to you when you are old.

Moms and Dads need wisdom, too! When our children were little, we needed wisdom to raise them according to God’s Word. Now that our children are grown with children of their own, we need wisdom on how to relate to them as adults.

Thankfully, because we did some things right when they were little—and because of the grace of God—they WANT us involved in their lives. How do we do that without intruding or imposing?

We’ve found it’s best to wait until they ASK for our input. And, then when they do, we try to give it in bite-size pieces. It’s also important to make sure we are encouraging them to walk in agreement with their spouse, so we are always cautious to direct them back to their spouse.

The Bible says if we answer a matter—give our opinion—before we have all the facts, we are a fool. So, it’s important to have all the facts, both sides of the story, before we offer advice.  Successfully parenting adult children can be one of the most rewarding and fullfilling experiences a mom and dad can have.

As our children grow up, they shouldn’t just develop chronologically and physically.  The Bible speaks about growing up spiritually. 

1 Samuel 2:11 says “the boy, Samuel, continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.”

The Gospels say a similar thing about the Lord in Luke 2:52. “And as Jesus grew up, he increased in wisdom and in favor with God and people.”

Although Jesus was God, it seems that he had to grow up just like any other child.

The one distinctive in both Samuel and Jesus’ story is that they not only grew up physically each year, but they grew in favor with God and with people.

The favor of God on our children is the biggest blessing they could receive.  Having favor with people is also a big advantage for our kids. 

Becky and I believe with you for your children and grandchildren as they grow up…

…that they will increase in wisdom and favor with God and with people.

The most successful marriage is one in which forgiveness is often sought and richly given.

Forgiveness plays such a crucial role in all of our relationships, but especially in our marriage. 

Marriages are made miserable because one or both partners are unwilling or unable to forgive.  In some homes, the sun rises and sets each day without a kind word being spoken or a tender touch being felt.

A husband cannot allow unforgiveness to develop toward his wife…

…and a wife must not hold onto offenses toward her husband.

Releasing the hurts and extending tenderness, love and forgiveness toward our mate is the only way for marriage partners to continue to become one…as Jesus taught.

Today, let the hurts go.  Release the resentment, excuse the offenses and forgive your mate in the same way Jesus forgave you.

Let forgiveness be often sought and richly given in your marriage.

Proverbs 2 gives parents some great foundational truths to teach their children:

·        My son, accept my words! Believe God’s Word is true.

·        Hide my commands inside yourself!

·        Listen to wisdom.

·        You should desire to learn.

·        Ask for knowledge!

·        Cry aloud to learn more!

·        Look for wisdom, as you would look for silver!

·        Search for it, as you would search for gold!

·        When you have wisdom, you will understand how to respect God.

·        When you have wisdom you will really know God.

·        Wisdom is God’s gift.

·        God’s words provide knowledge and wisdom.

·        He brings success to those who do right.

·        He protects honest people.

·        He guards good people.

·        He protects those who trust him.