HEAR INSTRUCTIONS - Dag Heward-Mills

We’re moving on to the chapter 13 of the book of Proverbs. “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1). Here again is the exhortation to pay heed to our father’s words. Try hard to be a person who listens to the instructions of fathers in your life. In life, we usually have more than one figure who plays the role of a father in our lives. No human being is solely good at being a father. So God gives people to us who act as fathers. Some have two, three, four or more fathers. “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers:” (1 Corinthians 4:15). Yet, take note that a father is more than an instructor. Fathers cause you to exist as a Christian, human being or a business person. Can you recognize who your fathers are? It is important to recognize such individuals in your life and not just as teachers, friends, colleagues, pastors, supervisors and more. When such a person exists, they join a special category of people in your life. You must be careful when such a person speaks because he is anointed. Fathers have a supernatural ability to provide for their children. They are supernaturally endowed to care for their children. That is what a mother or a father is. That is why the best milk for a new-born child is the mother’s milk because all nutrients are found in it. A father’s instruction is like a mother’s milk that has everything in it. When you set it aside, it is as though you do not like yourself. Even if your father is not a believer, you still have to know how to carefully handle him because he is still a father. “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction” (Proverbs 13:1a). Remember that a father does not only have the role of a father but maybe, the title husband, brother, teacher or more. Hear the father’s instruction. Once you are rebellious, an evil spirit is in you! The Bible also says that if a man gives birth to a rebellious son, that son should be taken outside and stoned. “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deuteronomy 21:18 & 21). You start to do well when you listen to a father. Receive the grace to listen to your fathers! Amen!

“But a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1b).” Watch out for people who laugh and mock fathers. You have to be careful when you laugh. I am not referring to light hearted laughter but I am referring to the laughter that mocks others. Certain people mock at my way of preaching. Some say it is not preaching but chatting. People also mock at the preaching of the principles of Loyalty, a foundational doctrine in our church. It is not respected. Later on, to their chagrin, these same mockers recognize the importance of the preaching of Loyalty. When you are around people and someone makes a mistake and you laugh, your laughter reveals certain elements of your character. Scorning is one of the most dangerous things for a Christian to do because it forms and iron curtain between you and wisdom. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1). You are blessed when you are not close to mockers. Watch out for people who mock at and despise things. These are those described as, “the scornful”. People mocked Bishop Oyedepo when he spoke about how to be prosperous and today, his church is debt free along with the universities he has successfully build in Nigeria. Do not scoff at wisdom because scoffers do not do well. Learn from people instead of laughing at and criticizing them. Scoffing is an automatic response of people who are in darkness when they see someone in a brighter light.

“A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence” (Proverbs 13:2). Don’t be mistaken, dear reader. The fruit of your mouth is not the food of your mouth. It is what comes out of your mouth: your words. Most people do not know how to speak correctly. Sometimes, how we pronounce words can take away our opportunities. Most beauty pageant contestants are aware of this fact. Regardless of their talent and beautiful evening gowns, once they open their mouths, their value is determined by the words of their mouths. People fall in love with you by the words of your mouth. Regardless of how you look, you can win the hearts of people with your words. When there are no fruits of the mouth, you do not have anything good. In certain cultures, it is said that you do not talk in the midst of adults. It is also said that children are seen and not heard. But don’t let this keep you away. If you are sitting in a meeting, speak and make your mark. I have learned to mark silent people as dangerous people. Although they do not talk, they have thoughts, usually evil and critical thoughts, running through their heads. Learn to talk. It is better to talk too much than not at all. Most animals make noises. It is serpents that do not make noise. A person takes on serpentine features when they are silent. It is by the fruit of the mouth that people advance and become CEOs, presidents and world renowned preachers.

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat” (Proverbs 13:4). Wisdom is practically showing us how prosperity comes about: through hard work. Look through history and see how Americans labored hard to build the city of New York into what it is today. America is a great nation because most Americans very work hard. Now, we can adopt this behavior and in turn work hard. Receive wisdom and do not despise the words you hear.

Blessings!