We moved into our house seven years ago. Hard to believe we have lived here this long already. When we moved, we had our list of things we wanted in a house. One of the things I wanted was a yard big enough so I could have a garden. We found a house that met our wants that sat on 5 acres. The house we bought actually sits on an old Christmas tree farm. The place that I chose to have my garden that made the most sense on the property makes the garden hidden from the house. Since we cannot see the garden from the house, it is a perfect location for all the animals that are scavenging for food. All the delicacies that a fresh garden holds for all of these creatures: many deer, raccoons, groundhogs, rabbits, etc. I knew that I needed a fence, but I wanted a fence that matched the esthetics. As pretty and as natural as it was, it did absolutely nothing to keep out the animals. I worked very hard to cut down a tree and dig the post holes and build my fence. As pretty and natural as it was, it did not protect my precious produce. Out went the natural fence, and in came the industrial fence that continues to be tweaked.
The purpose of my new industrial fence is to protect, preserve, put a hedge, or guard my produce from the marauders that case my garden when I am not paying attention, mostly at night.
Proverbs 6 and 7 states that the purpose of a son or a daughter keeping their parents’ teaching, which hopefully lines up with the teaching from God’s Word, is to protect, preserve, put a hedge, or guard from the forbidden or evil woman/man.
The company we keep impacts our lives. We are influenced by those that we spend time with. Proverbs 6, 7 talk about someone entering into an adulterous relationship, but we also can take these principles and the outcomes of entering into an adulterous relationship and apply them to other relationships.
What is the purpose of listening to one’s parents or those that are older and wiser than you? They have years and experience on their side that those that are younger, their children, do not have. They have seen and experienced more in life, and want to protect their young from making mistakes that will forever impact their lives.
What impact can a wrong relationship have on your life? It can destroy (6:32), cause wounds (6:33), cause dishonor (6:33), and lead to death (7:27).
When we seek to fulfill a desire or gain satisfaction from something or someone that does not bring glory to God, it does not bring about anything that is positive.
Children are more precious than my produce that my family has spent much effort in protecting. Just as we have put up an industrial fence to be a protection around my precious produce, so the commandments and teaching (6:20; 7:1) of a parent are meant to protect their children from making foolish choices. I have fencing tall enough so the deer cannot jump over, buried fencing so the groundhogs cannot dig under it, and tiny openings so the rabbits cannot sneak through. So the teaching and wise words of wisdom of a parent are meant to put a hedge around their children to protect, preserve, and guard them from making foolish choices.
The difference between my produce and children is that children have a choice. They can choose to listen or choose to ignore the wise words of wisdom bestowed on them by their parents.
True satisfaction of our desires only comes from following God and His Word. Too often we think that we know better how to get the satisfaction that we are looking for. The trouble is that those that choose to follow their desires are deceived by those desires. They think that the satisfaction of their desires will be found their way. This is deceptive thinking (Prov. 14:8).
Every circumstance in life gives us the opportunity to make a choice. Will you choose to follow the path of wisdom (listening to your parents and others who are wise) or will you listen to your desires that are deceitful? The path of wisdom provides safety, but the path of folly destroys, wounds, and brings dishonor.
