The book of Proverbs is not just a divine book filled with quips and maxims for life. The book of Proverbs was written and compiled with the objective that the reader can know wisdom and instruction; to understand words of insight, to gain instruction in righteousness, justice and equity. The proverbs are also are written to give prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the youth (Pro. 1:2-4).
Many of the proverbs are written from the vantage point of a father who seeks to instruct his young son (Pro. 1:8-19; 3:1-12; 4:1-27). The young son is to take his father’s advice that he might mature into manhood. Such a son is his father’s delight (Pro. 15:20). A father intends to teach and train his son in the way that he should go in hopes that the son, when grown, will never depart from those teachings (Pro. 22:6).
The Hebrew word for “proverb” means “to rule.” The reader is to be ruled by the divine instructions that are written. These are words to live by. Like all of divine Scripture, the proverbs are profitable for the reader (2 Tim. 3:16). Reading, hearing, and obeying the teaching found within Proverbs will make one wise. On the other hand if the reader rejects the wisdom found in the book, then they are considered fools. The book of Proverbs contrasts those who are wise with those who are foolish. The father intends to raise a wise man, and not a fool.
Wisdom is not just for senior citizens who have lived a full life. It is clear that the proverbs teach that even the youth can be wise. It is godly and spiritual to desire to be wise. James wrote that if we lack wisdom we can petition God to grant us wisdom (Jam. 1:5). God is capable of giving wisdom because He is wise (Rom 16:27; Jude 25) Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy, fruitful, and it is without partiality and hypocrisy (Jam. 3:17). Such wisdom is to be desired by the aged as well as by the young. When James says we are to “ask of God” when we lack wisdom, the Greek word for “ask” means to “beg, call for, or crave.” Christians of all ages and status should crave godly wisdom. The tides of culture bring new challenges, and the Christian needs godly wisdom to help him navigate through those challenges. As the culture trades truth for tolerance, the Christian needs a wisdom that can only come from God. The type of wisdom that young people need will not be found in the halls of the universities, but it will be found upon their knees in prayer with open Bibles.
Lessons for Young Men
Proverbs yields instructions for young men. I have selected several lessons from the book of Proverbs that I believe are beneficial for young men. The number of boys who grow up without a father-figure is increasing each generation. The result is lack of wisdom in real life situations. Without the proper teaching young men are left to make choices on their own. There is a great need for equipping and training young men to become successful men. These lessons (though not exhaustive, and certainly not all that can be learned from Proverbs) can be beneficial in instructing the young men of this generation.
- The Diligent Man: “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (Pro. 12:11). The book of Proverbs sets forth many lessons concerning the God-glorifying discipline of hard work.
- The Sluggard: “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets” (Pro. 22:13). The sluggard is the opposite of the diligent man. Too many young men lack a work ethic, which leads to many trials and tribulations.
- The Wise Man: “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding” (Pro. 3:13). Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and it yields great increase in life.
- The Fool: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Pro. 12:15). The wise father warns his young son of the folly of being a fool.
- The Strange Woman: “For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:3–4). Warnings abound in the Proverbs concerning the strange woman who seeks to destroy every man.
- The Friend: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Pro. 17:17). Young men need to be taught the value of friendships. Scripture is replete with stories about friendships, both good and bad.
- The Wealthy Man: “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth” (Pro. 12:27). Money management is just as spiritual as prayer. Young men need to learn the value of money and how to take care of it.
- The Righteous Man: “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Pro. 21:21). Righteous living is possible for the young man. The wise man must be a righteous man.