Being smart and being wise aren’t the same thing. Smart means you know a lot of facts. Wise means you know how to live: what to do, what to say, and which choices are good. Proverbs is a book in the Bible full of short sayings from a father to his son. King Solomon wrote most of them, and he starts by telling us where wisdom comes from.
Wisdom Starts With God
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
“Fear of the Lord” doesn’t mean being scared of God. It means respecting him so much that you want to do things his way. God made everything, so he knows best how life works. A wise man starts with God.
Listen to Your Dad and Mom
Proverbs 1:8-9 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Solomon says good teaching from your parents is like a crown or a gold chain: it makes you look good! God gave you a dad and mom to help you grow wise. Dads, this works both ways. Our sons learn the most when they see us following God ourselves.
Don’t Follow the Crowd
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
Sometimes friends want you to do something you know is wrong, and saying no feels hard. A wise young man doesn’t just go along with the group. He stops and asks, “What would God want me to do?”
The Takeaway
Wisdom comes from God. When you respect him, listen to good teaching, and say no to bad choices, you grow wiser every day. When you don’t know what to do, ask God for help (James 1:5).
