BORROWED WISDOM
Micah Smith
Today’s Scripture: "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22, ESV
Theme: Consider your parents and others who nurtured you, without disrespecting or dismissing them when they are old.
THE VIEW CHANGES
It's amazing how our perception of our parents evolves throughout life. As a father of two young daughters (ages six and nine), I've watched their eyes light up when I come home from a work trip, as if I'm some superhero returning from battle. To them, I'm still invincible, all-knowing, moderately cool, and capable of fixing anything from broken toys (i.e., new batteries) to scraped knees. But I know what's coming – those teenage years when my "superhero cape" will start showing its frays and tears... and I’ll be seen less like Superman, and more as Clark Kent.
The journey of our relationship with our parents seems to follow a somewhat predictable path: from childhood awe to adolescent eye-rolling, from young adult independence ("I can make my own decisions now!!!") to middle-aged appreciation. Many of us reach a point where we suddenly recognize the value of having someone who's walked this road before us, someone with stories about our childhood and perspectives that stretch back decades before we existed. By the time we truly appreciate this wisdom source, sometimes it's already fading away.
WISDOM BORROWED, NOT BOUGHT
King Solomon, who wrote today's proverb, famously asked God for wisdom above all else. What's fascinating is that much of Solomon's wisdom involved recognizing and sharing the value of other’s experiences. As he notes in this verse, there's something profoundly important about honoring and learning from those who came before us.
The beauty of wisdom is that it doesn't have to be earned through painful personal experience – it can be borrowed. You don't have to touch every fire to know it burns; you can learn from someone who already carries the scars. Our parents and elders, regardless of their imperfections, have accumulated decades of experiences we can learn from. They made mistakes so we don't have to make the same ones. They've weathered relationships, careers, and life challenges that we may be just beginning to face.
Make it Personal: When was the last time you truly sought wisdom from your parents or elders in your life? Not just small talk, but genuine insight into life's important questions? If your parents are no longer with you, who are the older, wiser voices in your life that you might be overlooking? Consider setting aside time this week to call a parent, grandparent, or mentor, specifically to seek their perspective on something you're facing.
Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of those who have gone before me. Help me value their wisdom and honor their journey, even when I see their imperfections. Give me humility to learn from others' experiences rather than insisting on learning everything the hard way. And as I parent my own children, help me pass down wisdom with grace and humility. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Read: John 19:26-27; Exodus 20:12
Weekly Memory Verse: “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:2-3, ESV