Yesterday, I was driving home, listening to the Dan Patrick show on the radio.
I listen to Dan for sports but during this particular hour, he was talking about parenting. In that short 10-minute segment, he gave three pieces of parenting advice. Two of the things I agreed with and the other one I opposed.
What I liked: Dan said when he is with his teenage daughter, he just listens. He said she will tell him everything about her life if he just listens and doesn’t keep interjecting. I like that. I need to listen more.
What else I liked: Dan said whenever his kids’ friends come to the house, he wants them to come say hi to him and his wife. He finds it to be respectful and shows the kids that he is present. I like that too. Building respect is important for our kids.
Here’s what I didn’t like: Dan said he always tries to embarrass his teenagers. He said, “They’re either laughing at me or with me, but at least they are laughing.” I don’t know that embarrassing your kids all the time is a great idea, especially if it is just for your own self esteem I don’t plan on adopting that parental “wisdom” anytime soon.
This human “wisdom” made me think about Job. His friends had all kinds of advice about Job’s adversity. Some of what they had to say was true and wise. Job 4:6 is a perfect example of this:
“Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?”
But along with bits and pieces of wisdom comes discouragement and blame from his friends. Look at what God has to say about the friends so-called wisdom at the end of the Book.
We need to be wise when it comes to the advice of others. Good counsel is so important from those we respect and trust. But is everyone always 100% accurate? Only the Bible can be trusted every time. Allow God’s word to be your first and final authority as you sift through the messages of this world and as you weigh the advice of those who may not have your best interest at hear