Proverbs 4:12
“When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.”
In Proverbs 4, Solomon is preparing his son to go live on his own. He reminded his son that his father also taught him the same things. He said in verses 3-4, “For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also…” Solomon stressed the importance of his son taking the same things his father taught him to let them guide him when he was on his own.
First, Solomon said, “retain my words.” He was begging his son not to let what he taught him go in one ear and right out the other. Every person needs to heed this advice. Your parents taught you how to make it in life, and their advice to you was to keep you from ruining your life. Many young people ruin their lives because they think they know more than their parents. So, they live in such a manner as to prove their parents wrong. You must understand that your parents truly want the best for you, and their counsels to you should be retained and followed.
Second, Solomon said to “keep my commandments.” In other words, he was telling his son not to abandon the rules under which he lived in his father’s house. Often young people think they have the freedom to live any way they want when they leave their parent’s home, and they do; however, those rules their parents had for them were there to protect them from ruining their lives. It would be wise for every person to remember the rules by which they lived growing up and live by those same rules. Having a personal curfew will keep the single person from ruining their life in sin. Avoiding the wrong places and friends will keep them from being associated with wrong. Staying involved in church will help the single person to continue to keep their life on track for God without having to trudge through heartache.
Third, Solomon taught his son to keep gathering wisdom after he left home. He said in verse 7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom…” A young person should continue to learn once they leave home. They should learn the things that will help them live for God. Just because a person has graduated from high school and college doesn’t mean they should stop learning. Life should be a continual classroom of gathering wisdom to help in life.
Fourth, Solomon reminded his son not to forget the examples he taught him. He said, “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom…” Solomon reminded his son that he didn’t just give him information, but he showed him how to live by example. Let me encourage every young person to avoid the mentality that your parent’s lifestyle is out-of-date. If you have parents who lived what they taught, then you are privileged to learn first hand what to do and what not to do in life.
Solomon said in the verse above, “When thou goest…” Every person will eventually live on their own. Solomon warned that the reason they need to heed these warnings is because “thy step shall not be straightened.” In other words, your parents won’t be there to correct you and save you from heartache once you get on your own. This is why it’s imperative to absorb everything your parents teach you and live by it so their wisdom will be the correcting agent in your life when you are on your own. Always remember that mom and dad are not always going to be there to stop you from wrong.
It’s time every young person pays close attention to the their parent’s instruction because they will eventually be living on their own. If young people don’t pay close attention to their parent’s instruction, then they will miss something that is going to help them in life. Every young person needs to give their life to paying attention to their parent’s advice and teachings. Those teachings and advice are there to help you enjoy life. Don’t ignore it!