Knowledge, Wisdom, and Discernment
A Parent’s Responsibility; A Child’s Choice.
Reflective Reading: Proverbs 2
Welcome back for part two of Kelly Nash: Out on a Limb! Last week we talked about how everyone in life fits into one of six categories: the Simple, Fool, Mocker, Knowledgeable, Wise, or Discerning. Our young hero Kelly Nash starts off in life as a “Simple person,” but throughout the story he is challenged to set aside his foolish ways and actually start thinking! For some, like Kelly, it takes a calamitous experience to start thinking. Thankfully, a near-death experience is not always required to help children think before they act!
Thinking starts with a willingness to be corrected. Correction begins when dad and mom take on the responsibility of correcting and teaching their children. In Proverbs 1 we learn that dad is responsible as the primary corrector and mom as the primary teacher (Proverbs 1:8). This makes sense, considering that mom would be with the children more during the day as dad would be out working on the farm or busily engaged in his employment.
It has been said that if a child has not learned to obey and submit to the authority of mom and dad, neither will they obey God. I have found this to be true. It is during this time of training and correction at home that parents can train their children to practice turning their hearts toward God in genuine repentance and humility. This act of humble obedience is the catalyst for unlocking the heart and mind of a thoughtless child. For it is in this moment of humility and brokenness that grace and mercy break the chains that have bound a child’s soul. Once their soul is unlocked by God’s grace, thinking begins and knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul (Proverbs 2:10).
When knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul, children move from being simple to knowledgeable, then from knowledgeable to wise, and from wise to discerning. Discernment is the highest level of thinking and unlocks the greatest of all freedoms. Helping our children reach this level of intellectual excellence is one of the most essential gifts we can give. It equips them to discern between good and evil. Discernment guards children from peer pressure and ungodly activities and enables them to choose their friends wisely.
The act of “turning” redeems the mind, heart, and soul. New desires are birthed, one of which is a love for the Word of God. Once these desires start to grow, parents need to fan those flames by providing new opportunities, the most inspiring books and audio dramas, and creative new avenues to cultivate their skills. One helpful piece of advice is to pray and ask God to help you find godly and highly skilled individuals who can inspire your children to new heights.
Once these doors of desire open, however, it is essential to move forward quickly! Those who take this pursuit of knowledge lightly and neglect it will remain simple and be susceptible to foolish choices. This is why we read a father’s plea in Proverbs 2:1-22:
“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path. When wisdom enters into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall guard thee.”
Notice Solomon’s challenge to seek Wisdom more than silver and hidden treasure. We need to show our children what is possible if we take the time, effort, and sacrifice to grow in knowledge so that we can live a life of wisdom that is attractive, beautiful, and compelling. Note also that Wisdom will enter one’s heart if we learn to fear the LORD. And if we learn to fear the LORD, then we will find the knowledge of God!!! Can you understand the immenseness of this promise? The knowledge of God…the knowledge of God….the knowledge of God!! Those who possess this can create, invent, discover, and discern. Children will go beyond the great artists of the Renaissance period, go beyond the discoverers and the so-called sciences of our day, and find real cures for debilitating diseases.
Where do you start? Kelly Nash: Out on a Limb is the perfect story to compel children to turn from their simple ways and discover what Solomon describes as a treasure that cannot be compared to anything one could desire. The goal for our children is to move from simple to knowledgeable to wise, and ultimately, to becoming a person who can discern between good and evil. Knowledge, Wisdom, and Discernment—a parent’s responsibility; a child’s choice.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and correction” (Proverbs 1:7).
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is discernment” (Proverbs 9:10).
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
Jack the Conqueror (Ages 6+)
Rising to the Top book/audio book (Ages 9+)
Ishmael and Self-Raised (Ages 12+)
