Proverbs 1:8-9 (NASB)

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

Bible Commentary

Proverbs 1:8-9 is a Bible passage where Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, advises his son to follow the teachings of his father and mother.

When we were children, our parents didn’t always give us the reason why they were telling us to do something (or not do something). Maybe it was obvious, but maybe it wasn’t.

In Proverbs 1:9, Solomon is plainly telling his son why he should listen to the instructions of his father and mother.

Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

We are told early in the Old Testament of the Bible that we should honor our father and mother. It is so fundamentally important that it is one of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:12)

Ephesians 6:2 in the New Testament points out that it is the first commandment with a promise.

As children, our parents’ instructions don’t seem that important.

· Clean up your room.

· Don’t fight with your sister or brother.

· Pick up your toys.

· Turn off the TV.

We don’t see the harm in disobeying these rules, or putting them off for a time. After all, it doesn’t hurt to watch TV a little longer than we’re supposed to, or to leave our toys in the floor overnight, right?

The Art of Submission

What we didn’t realize as children is that it was not the act of obedience that was so important, but the attitude of obedience. An obedient heart begins with the practice of submission.

The salvation of our very souls depends upon our submission to Jesus Christ, with the confession of our sins and acceptance of His forgiveness.

If we don’t learn the attitude of submission at a young age, it becomes more and more difficult to humble ourselves under the hand of a mighty God, or to the men and women with authority on earth.

When we become adults, we of course have the maturity to make our own decisions. Have you ever spoken out of pride and had to eat your words? Or overstepped your bounds when you thought you were right and then found out later you were dead wrong? I have.

The art of submission is… click to continue reading