“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.”

Proverbs 23:24-25

This proverb points to the multi-directional relationship of a parent and child. Often we think only in terms of what parents provide for their children, including, among other things, food and shelter and guidance for life. In fact, the scriptures make much of this obligation.

Here, though, the scriptures implore the children to make their parents glad … by being righteous and wise. The best gift children can give to their parents is not a good report card, a prestigious college degree on scholarship, or even grandchildren. All those would make most parents rejoice, but growing in wisdom and righteousness is more important and valuable.

This isn’t only about children, though. As parents, we have a tremendous obligation to influence our children in this direction.

Whether you are a child or a parent, how are you doing in this regard? Are you giving your parents joy by growing in righteousness and wisdom? As a parent, are you guiding your children toward righteousness and wisdom?

“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

  or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”

Proverbs 22:16 ESV

Many may say there is no way this proverb can be true even if you hold the position that proverbs are not iron clad guarantees, but rather generally true or good principles for life. And the reason the critics say this is “because it so contradicts what I see; there are so many obvious examples of rich people oppressing poor people to increase their own wealth and of rich people giving to other rich people, then dying with lots of money.” So, what’s the answer?

The reader must recognize that God looks at things differently than humans generally do. That is to say God recognizes, even values non-material things like integrity and character and soul. Those things are real, but you can’t reach out and touch them. This is illustrated in 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'” That God looks on the heart (non-material) and not on the outward appearance (material) is the reason Proverbs 28:6, for example, can certainly be true even though it feels untrue when the bills are piling up: “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways” (ESV). Understanding that we are both physical and spiritual beings is not only a challenge at times, it is an important key to understanding the book of Proverbs.

Now, back to our original verse: “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” It seems that this proverb is saying the person will come to a poverty of soul not necessarily a poverty of the pocketbook. This type of behavior leads to or reveals an impoverished soul.

Lord, please help me to see thing as you see them, to not be so focused on material things that I don’t give true consideration of matters of the soul.

“It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

  but every fool will be quarreling.”

Proverbs 20:3

Here, the writer argues for being a peacemaker. While there is certainly a time for battle (Ecclesiastes 3:8), the point here is that one’s spirit ought to be one of avoiding strife, not running toward it. This is a character issue, and the person who revels in quarreling is a fool.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Those who strive for peace are certainly not fools.

How are you doing in this regard? Is your spirit one of peace or conflict? When someone is recounting a story do you jump in to correct them on the finer details of the story? “It was a red car. No, it was maroon!” And, then justify the tensions because “It was a maroon car!”

“The one who states his case first seems right,

  until the other comes and examines him.”

Proverbs 18:17 ESV

Wisdom requires that both sides in a dispute be heard. Wisdom also requires that judgement be held until the facts are examined. Lord, help me be wise when adjudicating a dispute.

“A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

  than a hundred blows into a fool.”

Proverbs 17:10 ESV

This proverb speaks to the stubbornness of a fool, his unwillingness to be corrected.

Lord, please make me a man of understanding.