Parenting 101: Aim for wisdom

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)

Hands up all parents who want to be grieved by their children. Not many takers.

Hands up all parents who purpose and work towards making their children wise.

This proverb warns us that parents who aren't aiming at wisdom for their children are parents who are aiming at sorrow for themselves. If you want your children to be a joy to you, aim for wisdom. Here are a few thoughts to help you toward this goal. 

• You must seek to be wise yourself. You can't help them attain what you don't have.

• Be careful of being distracted by lesser good things. It is good for your child to get an education, and to develop all sorts of skills in sports, music etc. It is better for them to be wise. Make developing wisdom a priority and reorder the lesser things around it. 

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is not merely an intellectual thing; it is deeply rooted in a profound reverence for God and His glory. In aiming at wisdom, the place to begin is with God. Our children need to understand the majestic greatness and splendour of our God, and be gripped by an awareness of His reality and presence. 

• Teach them the Scriptures. God makes us wise through His word. 'The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;' (Psalm 19:7). Free family devotional resources are available here.

• Pray for them to be filled with wisdom. God gives wisdom. We should ask Him for it for our children. 'And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,' (Colossians 1:9).

• Be careful that your life doesn't contradict your words.