Proverbs 1:4
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Part of the answer why God inspired, and King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs can be found here. For young men these proverbs provide knowledge and discretion, for simple people it provides subtilty. Reader, all men are born foolish, ignorant and simple, and they will be punished by life without correction and instruction. King Solomon, the wise Preacher, recorded his learning and observations in short sayings dear reader, to teach you wisdom and understanding for life.
Reader, listen if you have ears, simple people are foolish, naïve, silly and stupid. They have very little wisdom or understanding. They cannot choose wisely, comprehend or analyze because they lack the ability to do so. King Solomon's proverbs can give prudence to such people. Subtle men are wise, clever and knowledgeable. Do you not want to strive to be such a man or woman dear reader?
Young men dear reader arrive as babies. to protect themselves they need diapers, they know nothing and they feed like little puppies. They take 3 years to walk, talk and potty. They ride a bike at 5 years and by the age of fifteen they can barely drive a car. They have dreams of driving expensive sporty cars, dating beautiful models and being a superstar. Fast forward to the age of twenty years old and they are naïve, gullible and foolish. Not to mention impulsive. What they lack is experience and self discipline!
They find work hard and long, they sleep long hours and play even longer. If they do work hard, they don't work smart, because they don't know how to. They know how to spend money, but they do not know how to save it. Attractive women are instantly spotted by them, but they cannot measure her character or know how to. Oh yes they can marry a wife, but beware, they do not know how to lead one! They can easily father a child, but alas dear reader they do not know how to train that child. Making money they can do yes, but they do not know how to invest it, how to make the money work for them.
Now you might ask, what happens to these young and foolish men? I'll tell you, the following happens:
- Drunkenness
- Poverty
- Drugs
- Disease
- Fighting
- Jail
- Divorce
- Vain business ventures
- Unemployment
- Premature death
The list goes on.
All of this can be avoided if they only learn & practice King Solomon's proverbs!
To know what is safe, profitable, right, appropriate and effective, that, dear reader, is knowledge!. To know God, to fear God, and to know that He rewards those individuals that diligently seek Him, that is knowledge. You won't get this knowledge from the world, oh no, this knowledge comes from heaven, and God has given it to you in the book of Proverbs. Oh how blessed we are to have access to such knowledge! And young men, they need this knowledge.
What is discretion? It is discriminating between right and wrong. Knowing how, when and why to do or not to do something, that is discretion. It's looking at a situation and taking advantage of it's opportunities, or avoiding it's dangers. To rightly judge factors' merit or morality in any matter, it wisely discerns and separates them. For young men to correct their mistakes and their follies, they need discretion.
Without these proverbs you will be hurt in life, and you will never amount to never amount to what you could with them. Harsh words? It's the truth reader. Listen if you have ears! With these proverbs you can be great in the sight of God and all good men! Reader, you can be successful and you can be properous with these proverbs. Reader these are not difficult lessons given to us, study them each day, retain their wisdom, and apply them to every aspect in your life.
What will you do today reader? Today is the first day of the rest of your life, for fear of it maybe being your last. Soak up this knowledge, apply it, and prosper dear reader!