Link
to David's Home Page
PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson Three
The Real Victim of Bad Advice
Text: Proverbs 1:8-19
An age-old problem: no one wishes to listen to his/her parents. This reading is addressed to “my son.” In much of history, young men had an exposure to life and life’s circumstances that was often denied young women. The course of young women was established by marital responsibilities and caring for children and the home. A young lady’s choices were limited from the moment of birth. However, most young men had the freedom to roam, the freedom of exposure, and choices to make.
Doubtlessly, many young women chaffed at the strict restrictions placed on them, and many young men rebelled at the “stupidity” of their parents who failed to realize the “richness” of life’s calls or the “joys” of life’s opportunities. As the young of most ages, they saw only the “upside” of life’s challenges, and never the consequences of following the call of personal desires. The young had not lived long enough to appreciate the value of experience.
The section begins with a plea to listen to the father’s instructions and heed the mother’s teachings. That which they most longed for came from what the young regarded as the most unlikely source: their parents’ guidance. Parents understood more about life than the young imagined! It was the parents’ insights that would put a wreath on their heads and jewelry around their necks! The dazzling effect of the victor’s wreath and a neck adorned with coveted jewelry was found in their parents’ words and thoughts, not in experiencing life’s calls.
“Caution, youth! Look at the persons who seek to appeal to your desires! Are they really concerned about you having a good, fulfilling experience, or are they only concerned about their opportunity to use you? Will you think you are saying “yes” to your desires only to discover (too late) that your naïveté was used to achieve their purpose? Be very careful about those you give consent to!”
“They say to you, ‘Come with us and you will have your heart’s desire through preying on those who are too stupid to recognize dangerous circumstances.’ Sure, they have done nothing to us, but they are not even afraid of a possible ambush. Besides, they have plenty—they will only get more! If they are hurt or die, it is their fault!”
“Think of what you will get! You will be instantly wealthy beyond your dreams! You can buy anything you want! Your house will be full of things you only dream about now!”
“We will take care of you! You can trust us! There is no way we would let you go in need! Besides, there will not be any need. Your days of wanting, needing, and dreaming about having are over.”
An alarmed father warns his son, “Be careful! You are about to make a mistake that will cause you endless regret! Instead of going with them, run from them. Look at what these people do. The evil that sheds blood is a call that they cannot resist. They do stupid things that cannot possibly work, and they seem not to notice or care. As a result, they make themselves the victim—they ambush themselves. They think imposing violence on others is the answer to everything—all their personal ambitions. Any person who turns to violence brings unnecessary hurt to himself. As a result, his own acts of violence will cost him his life.”
There are four things that are obvious in the foolish perspective then that are still obvious now.
1. The distrust of experience.
2. There exists a quick way to obtain one’s physical desires.
3. Materialism is the answer to all a person’s physical desires and wants.
4. The key to being successful in material pursuits is violence—using force to take from those whose weakness makes them vulnerable.
“There is not enough time to allow experience to teach us. Life is too short to allow experience to teach. There is a quicker way to obtain than yielding to experience. Physically having what you want when you want it is the core of existence. Material satisfaction is the only genuine satisfaction in life. To think otherwise is to deceive your self. Take what you want in the quickest way possible. If violence is necessary, use it—violence is your friend, not your enemy. Impose your will on another if you consider it necessary!”
For Thought and Discussion
1. What is an age-old problem?
2. To whom was this reading addressed?
3. What was denied young women?
4. Most young men had the freedom to what?
5. How does this reading begin?
6. What was the unlikely source that guided the young in life?
7. What would parents’ insights provide the young?
8. What caution was given?
9. What would the evil say to the young?
10. What did the evil people want the young to think about?
11. What promise did the evil people make to the young?
12. What four things were obvious in the perspective of the foolish that are still obvious?
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 3
Copyright © 2010
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ