Series: Wisdom That Works
Message: What This Book Accomplishes
Preacher: Jenniffer Ogden
Reflection: Mark Witas
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Jessyka Dooley
Live Beyond: J. Murdock
Live Purpose: Emily Ellis
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Proverbs 1:1-7 in the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: Proverbs 1:4 says, “for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.”
My dad used to have a sign on his refrigerator that said, “Teenagers, rise up and take your independence! Leave the house and get out on your own now, while you still know everything!”
It starts pretty young. When we are little and our moms and dads try to lend a hand we scream, “I can do it myself!” Even at three years old, we determine that we don’t need the wisdom of our elders. And, I suppose, some of this is necessary to establishing independence and self identity. But how many times could we save ourselves from trouble if we’d just listen to our elders?
When I was a kid, my dad wanted to teach me how to do some basic auto repairs so I could save some time and money when I got old enough to own a car. This was in the days when front brakes were disc brakes and back brakes were drum brakes. (Look it up if you are lost at this point.) Disc brakes are relatively easy to change. Drum brakes (back brakes) were intensely more complicated, and you needed the right tools to fix them correctly.
At one point my dad said, “When you change the back brakes, only do one side at a time so you can use the other one as a visual to make sure you know how to put everything back together.”
Of course, when I took the back wheels apart, I saw that I could easily change the brakes without any kind of a pattern to follow. I mean, it wasn’t rocket science.
As it turned out, it was rocket science. At least for me.
I took both brake assemblies apart and, as predicted, turned a 40-minute job into a four hour marathon—because my dad (wisely) decided not to help after I ignored his advice.
I’m 57 years old now, and because of the monumental mistakes I’ve made in my life and ministry, I’m now more anxious than ever to heed the advice of my elders. Sometimes I find their advice flies directly in the face of the direction I want to go. More often than not, I’m better off listening and heeding.
Recalibrate: Think of a time you shunned good advice and looked foolish. What would have/could have convinced you to heed that advice at the time it was given? Have you learned from your experience?
Respond: As the Lord to give you ears to listen and wisdom to ponder advice from your elders.
Research: Read The Benefits of Listening to the Elderly.
Remember: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7).
Mark Witas is the lead pastor at Sunnyside Adventist Church in Portland, Oregon.
Play a game of Stop and Go with your child. Walk or dance around until you or your child calls out “stop!” Freeze and wait until you or your child calls out “go!” Then get going until stop is called out. Our Zoe plays this game by herself, running around our lounge. Know there is wisdom in knowing when to stop and when to go. With your little one play this Stop and Go game and get good at hearing the call over your life in Jesus’ name.
How old do you think you have to be to know everything? Wait! Is there a time when you are old enough to be the most wise? Solomon grew in his wisdom even when he got really old. When I was in second grade, I told my mom that I didn’t need to bring a jacket to school. Well, when recess came, I wasn’t allowed to go outside and play with my friends because it was too cold to go out without a jacket. My mom knew what was best, but I thought I knew better. Has this ever happened to you when you thought you knew better? Take a piece of paper and write in big letters WISDOM. Color the letters in and make your sign really pretty. Put it some place where you will see it every day. Remember that wisdom means listening and learning from others who are wise.
I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty good in the kitchen. I cook meals for my wife every single week that she always says are better than those from the last week. It’s something I really feel accomplished and confident at doing. I have lots of practice at cooking and can say that I am a talented chef. In addition to all the practice I get cooking each week, I am also always watching YouTube videos from Tasty or Bon Appetite to learn something about the kitchen I didn’t know. I have never stopped trying to learn about food or kitchen utensils or how to make something I have never tried or tasted. As confident as I am, I know there is always more to learn!
Solomon, in Proverbs 1:5, writes, “Let the wise increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” In this he is saying, “you’re never done learning young man!” Even if you have done something a thousand times, there is still much more you don’t know. For example, I was “today years old” when I learned that those little flaps on the side of a juice box are actually for little kids to hold on to so they don’t squish the juice out of the box while drinking it!
What are some areas that you feel like you are confident in? What are ways you learn more about that skill? How has keeping an open mind and listening more helped you grow? What is a random hack you know about that could help someone in need?
Have you heard the phrase, “history repeats itself?” This phrase can be applied to literal history, in which stories of leadership, dictatorship, wars, peace, disease, all seem to repeat themselves. But I think it can also be applied to our personal lives. As teenagers and young adults, we have the ability to look to people who are older than us and learn from their mistakes. History doesn’t have to repeat itself! We can build off of the foundation that was laid before us and not have to make the same mistakes that our parents or grandparents made.It is so important for us to look back on the mistakes of other people’s lives and resolve not to do the same. The book of Proverbs tells us that its wisdom will “give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.” From the pages of this book, we have the opportunity to build from the mistakes and lessons learned from people who came before us. I challenge you to find one proverb to incorporate into your life and see how your life changes because of it.
Zan Long is GRC director for faith development for ages 0-17. She lives in Sydney, Australia, and serves at her local church in nearby Kellyville.
Jessyka Dooley is assistant youth director for the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Denver, Colorado.
J. Murdock is associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, where he focuses on youth and young adult ministry.
Emily Ellis is a senior studying theology at Walla Walla University in College Place, Washington.