God cares, as any good parent does. When our children mature into adults, we pull back to give them space to make their own decisions, but we remain near, hoping their choices reflect the wisdom we lovingly wove into their young lives. It wouldn’t be appropriate or wise for us to dictate our wishes for them or push them into molds we envision for them. But we never stop caring. Our love is too strong, our attachments too deep. That is God’s position with us.
He points out our choices, noting what wisdom or foolishness they offer. And He cautions us, just as we caution our children. For example,
- “Fear of the Lord [faith] is the foundation of true knowledge,” to despise it is foolish. Choose faith; don’t reject it. (Prov. 1:7)
- Sin will always entice and appeal to our FOMO. Don’t give in! (Prov. 1:10, 19)
Wisdom offers clarity and understanding, truth and light. She gives our lives meaning and direction. Folly offers glitz and deception, temporary gratification and emptiness. His invitations are hollow and always deplete us.
Proverbs tells us to embrace wisdom. Store it up. Listen to her with your ears and your heart. Don’t just cry out for insight, search for it. Your reward will be victory, protection, and prudence. “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.” (Prov. 2:1-9)
God is not less of a parent than we are. He directs and warns but doesn’t force us. His cautions are born from love. He has the advantage of seeing the end from the beginning. We would do well to seek Him and discover the path to unimaginable blessing.
BARBARA HIGBY 
AMEN! 🙂
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