Garland to Grace

Reading Proverbs 1 today stopped me in my tracks.

For the past three weeks, I have had multiple conversations surrounding complacency, contentment, honor, and faith.

Let me start with the advice I found as biblical truth for young people. The world tells you that you don’t have to listen to what your parents say because you are the main character. You decide what is best for you. Now, I know that not all relationships are perfect. Especially if your parents do not hold biblical truth. That is difficult.

However, in verses 8 - 9 the bible says “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.”

Let’s clarify this. This is in the context that the instruction and teaching lead you towards God and not away from him. Now read the verse again. I know it can be daunting because sometimes you probably don’t want to agree with your parents. The verse isn’t telling you to agree with them. Quite honestly, sometimes we don’t agree with the right decision. We would rather do the opposite and lash out or do the easy thing and respond to the world. However, in the end, we have to do what is right, choose what is right. When it comes to our parents we should always seek to learn and understand. Which makes verse 8 a simple truth that we will need to practice and walk out in; no matter the age.

Verse 9 gives us an image of a garland on our head and a chain on our neck. When looking up the word garland we find that all around the world “garland” symbolizes purity, beauty, love, peace, and passion. It is the top, the thing most prized. The crown of a king. Chains, on the other hand, represent being linked together and never-ending ( a neck chain, the one described in the verse.) In the bible, neck chains are referenced with sovereignty. In the case of Joseph and Daniel, both men were given a new authority when given a neck chain.

So knowing this, I reread verses 8-9 with the context of “Listen and apply what your parents are saying and teaching (as long as it is guided with biblical wisdom and truth.) They are a crowning example of love in your life and authority. They are forever your parents.”

In regards to complacency, approval, and comparison, we can move down to verses 15 - 17.

“My son, do not go along with them, for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it.”

Now down to verse 32.

“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.”

Verses 15 - 17 plainly lay it out for you. Chasing man’s approval just leads to more spiritual warfare in your life. You are choosing to place the world as the guard of your heart - rather than the one who knows and cherishes it most. Do not compare yourself to those that are around you. Where will it get you? What will it get you? Their approval? The approval of man is of no value in your life. Comparison and approval-seeking are a trap. Falling into it will always lead you away from contentment, towards disappointment. Solomon uses the example of a bird and a hunter. Even a bird watching a hunter set up a trap in plain sight knows better than to fall for it.

Understand that being content does not mean you are comfortable and complacent. We cannot afford to be complacent in our contentment. We still have to strive for more through contentment. Verse 32 tells us the complacency of fools will destroy them. Complacency may seem like it couldn’t harm anyone. But complacency is the sneak attack, that if not careful, could destroy you.

We have to know that listening to wise counsel, like our parents, will steer us away from approval seeking and complacency. It leads us to grace and contentment. Honor your parents. Honor God. Taking God at His word rather than uplifting the word of the world will elevate your faith. At the end of the day, we all have a seed to sow. Faith isn’t having the seed to sow. Faith isn’t hoping that it might grow. Faith is knowing that the seed you sow WILL grow a harvest.

Hold the garland of grace to your head and wear the chain adorned on your neck with purpose.