Bible Passage: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction…” (Proverbs 1:8 NIV)
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-24
I have a saying built from years of experience: Once you meet the parents, the kids make sense.
It basically means that kids are a reflection of their parents.
Whether you have kids or not, every man comes from a family. That family might be one where you were loved and cared for, where the example reflected the message.
But maybe your family was disconnected and struggled, where the message sent did not reflect the example you longed for.
Solomon is a complicated biblical character. He is often declared the wisest man ever to live, yet his life was a carnival of chasing every carnal experience he could.
And what is the conclusion he came to in the end?
“‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV)
But Solomon also had a conundrum. He had a son, Rehoboam, who was watching him.
So, what does Solomon do? He tries to teach his son with words.
First, he tells him what to do, things like:
Pursue understanding like a hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:3-4).
Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Hold on to wisdom (Proverbs 3:21).
Then, he tells him what not to do, things like:
Do not walk with evildoers (Proverbs 4:14).
Stay away from tempting women (Proverbs 5:1-23).
Avoid giving a pledge to a stranger (Proverbs 6:1-2).
The problem was that Rehoboam not only heard his words but watched his father’s ungodly actions in his pursuit of fulfillment.
And what happened after Solomon died and Rehoboam became king?
Rehoboam rejected wisdom, and the kingdom began to fall apart.
When it comes to our identity as fathers, we need to understand what’s at stake, as our kids not only hear us, but also watch us. If our message does not reflect our example, we create confusion, and confusion leads them to chaos.
As fathers, our actions speak louder than our words. So, let’s do our best to make sure that our identity is one that reflects something that is worth following.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for my kid(s). Help me to live in such a way that they see You in me and they want to follow me as I follow You (1 Corinthians 11:1). Amen.
Reflection: Think about what your kids need from you. What is one thing you can do for them this week to build a deeper connection with them?
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