A Son's Responsibility

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  (Proverbs 2:1-8 ESV)

I am prone to feeling guilty about different things in my children's lives so I found these verses to be very helpful. 

The parent is responsible to teach (vs. 1).

The second half of verse one through verse five gives a clear list of things that the child must do. 

• treasure commands
• listen carefully
• incline the heart
• ask for insight
• ask aloud for understanding
• seek and search for understanding

The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom and He is a shield, guarding the paths of justice and watching over His saints.


The implications of these verses are freeing. I have to be faithful to teach, and the child has many responsibilities, but the Lord is the One who gives the wisdom.