What Is True Wisdom?
Thursday’s Verse:
From Proverbs 23:24 ESV
“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”
“My son is an idiot.”
A little surprised at the candor, a gentleman waiting to see his oncologist began unloading on his eldest son, a college student who is off on a two-month “vacation” to find himself.
“Look in the mirror, I told him. He’s an idiot.”
Marco, the son, is halfway through his “finding himself vacation,” backpacking through Europe, and now looking for a place to stay in Sweden. When I tried to defend his son, the kindly gentleman told me that even if I tried my hardest, I couldn’t make it make sense to him. So, I didn’t try. I did ask about his church life.
“My son? In church? The church would fall down if he stepped inside.”
Taking a step back for a moment, this proverb reminds us that wisdom is not merely intelligence, success, or independence. True wisdom means a life directed by the fear of the Lord. For parents, nothing brings deeper joy than seeing a child walk in faith and truth. For children, there is a holy calling to honor father and mother. This is not done by perfection, but by a life that seeks God’s wisdom.
At the same time, this verse is not meant to be a weapon for angry parents or a badge of moral superiority. In Christ, we hear both the law and the gospel: the law calls us to honor our parents and live wisely, while the gospel assures us that when we fail, Jesus is our righteousness and wisdom. Even when a son is wandering through Europe, the Lord can bring him back, and parents are invited to pray rather than curse, to bless rather than shame.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, give us hearts that honor father and mother. Give parents patience, tenderness, and hope. Where there is foolishness, bring repentance. Where there is wandering, bring return. Where there is hurt, bring Your peace. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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