Proverbs 4:1-4. 1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
Solomon wants his children to be wise. He wants them to hear him, to be attentive to him, and not forsake his teaching. Solomon remembers how he was taught by his father, King David, and now he is passing that wisdom down to his own children. A wisdom that is not merely about finding success in life, but about finding life itself – keep my commandments and LIVE.
Proverbs, like all wisdom literature, presents life as a journey along a path. But what is the destination? Life. Life is a journey to life? Yes. The path of life is meant to lead us to God, to flourishing, out of slavery and exile and back to the promised land. But only if we hear, pay attention to, and do not forsake the father’s instruction, precepts, and teaching.
The irony of course is that Solomon himself did not listen to his earthly father’s instruction, nor his Heavenly Father’s. He did not hold fast to the commandments of God. God said do not amass great wealth, do not build great armies, and do not take many wives. Solomon did anyway. Though full of many things and great knowledge, Solomon lived a life of futility. A vaporous life.
What we who are in Christ know is that our Heavenly Father’s instruction, his precept, his commandment is to believe in his Son, Jesus. Jesus offers us life beyond life if we hold fast to him. His commandment is simple – believe in me.
John 11:25. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
Obedience to this commandment brings with it a life that is not only eternal, but divine. People can’t imagine living forever in Heaven, because they can only see themselves living forever with the life they have right now, rather than living forever with the Life of God himself inside of them. Of course no one wants the life they have right now to go on forever. Back pain forever? Financial struggles forever? Overly controlling parents forever? Fear, worry, anxiety, depression, lust, anger, pride forever? No thanks.
But life with and in Jesus and his all changing love forever? Yes, please.
You: How do you imagine eternal life to be?
You in Christ: Are you on the path of Christ’s life by simple belief in him?
Christ in you: How can you hold fast to your faith in Christ today?
Pray: Father, I want to listen to you and hold fast to your commandment to simply trust my savior Jesus. Amen.
To Live is Christ 