Teaching Wisdom

By Pamela Rose Williams

“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.” (Proverbs 23:24)

Wisdom is not something that “just happens” it is generally gained throughout years of life experience.  However, even in old age some people never “get wisdom”.

One popular passage in Proverbs says:

Proverbs 4:5-7

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Today’s verse in Proverbs 23:24 seems to say that one can “beget” a wise child.  In today’s English that would say that a “wise” child can be born that way. The book of Proverbs is laced with wisdom and foolishness. And as you read on through the New Testament you learn that “wisdom” is not something that is inborn, in fact, it is only obtained through a relationship with Jesus the Christ.  I think Paul puts it best in his 1st letter the the Corinthians, take a look:

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Indeed the father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice because the child that is wise knows Jesus.  A child who is wise has learned about Jesus from a father or mother who is wise. And that’s something to be glad about!