Day 6

Five Proverbs about Family Relationships

from the Proverbs reading plan

Read the Word

Proverbs 4:10-12 | Proverbs 17:1 | Proverbs 17:6 | Proverbs 22:6 | Proverbs 29:17

Reflect

If you are a parent or mentor, you understand the longing to impart wisdom to those coming after you. We want them to make good choices, to bypass the mistakes we made and to avoid harmful consequences that impact them for life. Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon addresses “my son,” encouraging not only his literal children but all young people in need of wise counsel.

Families function best when there is a value of all persons, regardless of their generational status, as well as a respect for those with greater life experience and wisdom. We see this pattern over and over again throughout Proverbs. The older, wiser person entreats the younger person to listen, to heed their advice, to make wise choices. And when this influence is regarded, the benefits are life-long. When this counsel is spurned, the consequences can be painful.

The good news is that this influence is not limited to parents. If you’re an aunt, uncle, grandparent, mentor, small group leader, neighbor, coach, teacher or in any other mentoring relationship, you have the opportunity to pass on wisdom to those in your circle. As a parent myself, I love the fact that my children are surrounded by godly men and women who can speak truth into their lives in a way they may not hear from me.

Respond

What “ways of wisdom” (4:11) have you received from older, wiser people in your own life?

Who in your own circle of influence would see you as a mentor or “older, wiser” person? How can you better maximize your influence?

Many family relationships are not what we would want them to be. Take some time today to pray for broken family relationships, either in your own life or in the life of someone close to you.