Proverbs 1:7-9
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,
and chains about thy neck.
I've noticed something in my studies of the book of Proverbs. Many, many times it begins with... "My son, give thine ear to instruction". "My son, don't lean upon your wisdom". Have you noticed that?
Well, what would give Solomon the authority to say such things? I mean, how could God use this man to tell me about wisdom? I know that he was the smartest and wealthiest man of his time. I understand that he received his wisdom from God. But looking deeper, I can see that some of the very things he spoke about were the things he failed in. Who better to warn us of traveling down a certain road than someone who had been there before.
I've heard people say things like, "Who's preaching about Jesus now?" "Are you kidding? I know that old boy and believe me he has done a lot of things sinful and contrary to God". I've heard some say, "How can that person give advice on marriage when they made a mess of theirs?" When people come to Jesus and confess their sins, He can greatly use them. No, He can't use us if we stay in our sins, but He will definitely use us when we are saved from our sins.
Really when it all boils down, it's about how Jesus can forgive, and put lives back together. The instruction and wisdom we receive from those in Christ who have been there before, is truly from God himself. So when people give you a "I've been there before" story, pay attention.
Pay attention son, I say boy, pay attention. - Foghorn Leghorn
