“Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her. Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!” Proverbs 23:22-25
A couple of months ago I tried to leave my house for two days straight without my phone and it was extremely difficult. Not because I need to check text messages or scroll through Facebook, but because it holds my grocery lists, my daily calendar, my Bible, my camera, and all the phone numbers for my friends and family. And GPS (which I use a lot).
Basically, I use my phone for everything and the convenience of it makes my life so much more efficient.
Safe to say, my phone has become extremely valuable to me.
Safe to say, smart phones have become extremely valuable to a LOT of people.
In this way, Proverbs 23:22-25 makes me think of a smart phone.
When I leave my house, do I think of wisdom as the thing I can’t leave without?
When I reach into my pocket, is it wisdom I need to check?
When I need directions, is it wisdom I search?
When I’m sitting and waiting, is it wisdom I read… wisdom I scroll… wisdom I consume my time with?
When Proverbs encourages us to listen with respect, do we value what it means to listen anymore, to wait, to have patience and be respectful, or has convenience cheapened the process?
When Proverbs challenges us to align with Fathers, Mothers, teachers, mentors, advisers, coaches and counsellors – and to not neglect them – do we even value earned experience and insight anymore or has instant gratification blurred our visibility?
To buy truth is to stand back from what this world defines as “smart” in order to ask if it’s wise.
We need to continuously re-adjust what we deem extremely valuable, and in so doing, God our Father rejoices when we, His children, turn out well.
