Parents: 4 Reasons Why You Need Them

Our final guest blogger of the month is a good friend of mine, Rod Arters. Rod is an extremely passionate and talented writer and contributes to such sites as Crosswalk.com. To follow Rod's blog, please visit http://rodarters.wordpress.com/.

During my teenage years, the musical genre "hip hop" was born. During my senior year in high school, one of the leading hip hop artists was DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. (You know the "Fresh Prince" today as Will Smith, famous Hollywood actor.) The group had just produced a hit song titled, "Parents just don't understand." I certainly felt that way and listened to that song repeatedly. Though my parents seemed to have occasional bouts of sanity, most times I thought they were from another planet. They obviously had never been teenagers themselves. Now, with some age and maturity under my belt, I realize that they too have gotten a lot smarter as they grew up.

And though God is the Source of wisdom and we certainly should ask Him for it, there is another person close to you that possesses a great deal of wisdom; your parent. When Solomon was imploring his children to seek his wisdom, he did not implore them to do so because he was crowned the Bible's wisest man. No, in fact, he begs his children to listen to him simply because he is “Dad.” Below are 4 reasons why your parents are a great source of wisdom for you to learn from.

1) They are wiser than you. Though they may not possess the wisdom of Solomon, they certainly are wiser than you. Glean from their wisdom. Learn all that you can while you can. It would be a shame to have been given such close proximity for so long to not take full advantage of all they could teach you. How many of us only appreciate what we have been given after it is gone? Having lost my biological father when I was five years old, I certainly wish I had access to his wisdom today.

2) They are older than you. Simply having lived 20 to 30 years before you came along means they have 2 or 3 decades of experience with this thing called “Life.” Do anything for 20 or 30 years and you will begin to acquire wisdom on that very subject. Do not forget the number of years that separates you from your mother and father. Though you may “feel” you know a lot, you actually know quite little in comparison to them. You may know more about your particular job, but they have a PHD in LIFE and the only way you acquire that prestigious degree is by blowing out birthday candles. Lots of them.

3) They have made more mistakes than you. Rita Mae Brown once said, "Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment." Sinful choices often breed wisdom. The more mistakes they have made, the more wisdom (oftentimes) they have acquired. Since your parents have a 20 or 30 year head start on you in regards to mistakes, they also have the same lead in regards to wisdom. All parents have made choices that they wish they never made. And since those choices are often lined with deep regret, nothing would please your parents more than to see their own children avoid the same traps. Learn from their mistakes so you do not have to make them yourself.

4) They are invested. No one has invested more in you (or loves you more) than your parents. Consider the investment they have made in you so far. Who sustained you when you could not sustain yourself? Who taught you how to walk and talk? Who has assisted you with homework night after night so that you might get the grade that will get the diploma that will get the job that will allow you to make the income to become a contributing member of society? Ask the experts and you will find that it costs over $200,000 to raise a child from birth to 18 years of age. Consider that investment. The next time you ask your parents for $20 and they say, “No,” remember they have already given you much more than that. Parents invest and then re-invest over and over again. Oftentimes, parents do not see their ROI (return on investment) for years. In spite of it, they continue to try and give and teach and plead so that their precious investment might acquire something that took them far too long to achieve... wisdom.

You can hear this pleading in Solomon's tone as he writes to his children:

§  Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)

§  My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs 3:1-2)

§  My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:21-24)

§  Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown. (Proverbs 4:1-8)

Begin today to seek wisdom. Though everyone needs wisdom, youth need it more since their lack of experience deprives them of it. Wisdom is the one gift that God desires to give to all people (James 1) and He puts heavy doses of it in your closest ally; your parents.

“Keep your Father’s word and treasure Mom’s commandments within you. Keep their commandments and live… bind them on your fingers and write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister’ and call understanding your intimate friend.” (Proverbs 7:1-4)