How to Impart Wisdom to Your Children - Proverbs 4

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Training Children for the Marathon of Life

Happy Father’s Day! Today is a day when we honor fathers and express our appreciation for their faithfulness in leading their families. Let’s have all the fathers stand and let’s let them know we appreciate them.

This morning, we’re going to talk about “How to Impart Wisdom to Your Children.” Let’s begin by imagining a seasoned marathon runner, who has been running for years. He knows the importance of training, discipline and perseverance.

Now, he turns his attention to his children, eager to teach them the art of running long distances. He explains the significance of endurance, the necessity of proper training, and the mental fortitude necessary to finish the race. He runs alongside them, offering encouragement, correcting their form, and sharing his wisdom gained through experience.

This dedicated training is not just about the race itself, but about preparing his children for the marathon of life. In much the same way, fathers are called to train their children in life’s journey. The Bible speaks to this responsibility, emphasizing the importance of imparting wisdom and guiding our children with patience and love.

Proverbs 4, our passage for today, provides a beautiful framework for father’s to follow. It highlights the significance of embracing godly wisdom, modeling integrity, and fostering a loving relationship. Before we begin, let’s look at some other verses that help us better understand the marathon race of life.

Hebrews 12:1b–2a (ESV) … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith …

This passage encourages fathers to shed any distractions or sins that may impede their ability to lead and to focus on running their own race with perseverance. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we model the ultimate example of endurance and faith for our children. Today, we will explore how fathers can effectively impart wisdom to their children by embracing godly wisdom, modeling a life of integrity and building loving and supportive relationships.

We’re now going to look at Proverbs 4 about a godly father teaching his son. By doing so, we prepare our children and grandchildren to run the marathon of life with endurance and faith. This calling applies to everyday life and to every season of parenting.

Embrace and Teach Godly Wisdom

Proverbs 4:5–7 (ESV) Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Godly wisdom and understanding is of the highest importance in life. In these verse, the godly father urges his children to prioritize acquiring wisdom. Wisdom provides protection and guidance and is personified in Proverbs as a guardian that should be pursued at all costs.

Proverbs 4:1–2 (ESV) Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

A father should call his children to pay attention to his teaching. What he teaches is based on sound wisdom and understanding from God’s Word. This wisdom should be learned and not forgotten or disregarded.

Proverbs 4:18 (ESV) But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

This verse illustrates the progressive nature of wisdom and righteousness. As the morning sun grows brighter as the day advances, the life of a righteous person becomes increasingly filled with understanding and wisdom. As fathers, we must embrace and teach godly wisdom to our children.

Committing Ourselves to Learning and Passing On Wisdom

Let me just clarify what the term fathers encompasses. There are fathers whose children are living at home, those whose children are grown, whose who have grandchildren and perhaps even grandchildren. Then there are spiritual fathers who have spiritual children that they are discipling and teaching.

And I might add that everything we are talking about today also applies to mothers in the same categories. In order to impart wisdom to our children, we as fathers must learn and embrace God’s wisdom in our own lives. Wisdom is not the same as knowledge, because wisdom comes only from God.

Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge in keeping with God’s will. How do we get and grow in wisdom? It comes from God’s Word and by learning in our church family.

Secondly, as you learn wisdom, we must teach it to our children. The most comprehensive training is when the children are still at home, but it should continue when the children are on their own. May all of us as fathers make a commitment to embrace and teach wisdom to our children.

Model a Life of Integrity and Righteousness

Proverbs 4:11–12 (ESV) I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.

These verses begin with the father saying that he taught his son the way of wisdom and he led him in the paths of uprightness. To lead a child, you must have gone on ahead of him so that he can follow you. As fathers we are to model a life of wisdom, integrity and righteousness.

In other words, our instruction in wisdom must be complemented with our example of living wisely. Children learn not only from what we say, but from how we live. Our daily conduct reinforces or undermines the lessons we teach.

Proverbs 4:23–24 (ESV) Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Wisdom must be embraced and believed in our hearts, in our inward being. Out of our hearts, then flow our actions, words and the rest of our lives. Having clean and wise hearts will help us to put away talk that is not godly, in our homes and with our children.

Proverbs 4:25–27 (ESV) Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

A life of integrity and righteousness is one of following Jesus, day in and day out. As fathers, we must pay attention to all of our actions, whether at home, at work or elsewhere. The devil tempts us to swerve off the path of following Jesus, which we must resist.

If our lives and actions do not match our words, it will have devastating effects on our children and our children’s children. On the other hand, as we model of life of integrity and righteousness, the impact will affect future generations for God’s glory. Our example sets a spiritual direction that others will follow.

Living What We Teach Before the Next Generation

As a father, you life serves as an example and model for your children and grandchildren. In fact, your life will continue to impact future generations after you’re gone. So, it is very important, not only to teach wisdom, but live with godly wisdom.

We are to lead our children in the paths of righteousness. Our commitment to serving God in our family, in our church and in our work should be apparent to all. When temptations come to compromise, we should be steadfast in following the Lord.

When difficult times come, as they do from time to time, our trust and hope in the Lord should shine forth. Children are watching how we respond to pressure and hardship. Model of life of integrity and righteousness.

Foster a Loving and Supportive Relationship

Proverbs 4:3–4 (ESV) When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.”

The relationship of a father to his children must be with love and support. When we instruct our children, it should be clear that it is for their good, both in the present and in the future. Following God must be seen by our children as both joyful and wise.

The truth that we teach must be taught with love. The discipline that we administer must be done with love. A loving relationship makes wisdom easier to receive and apply.

Proverbs 4:20–22 (ESV) My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

Again in these verses who see the father encouraging his son to pay attention to instruction. Not only to pay attention, but to keep them in their hearts, that is remember it. Then the father teaches the benefits of knowing and following godly wisdom.

It is not simply to please the father, it is find life, that is eternal life. And it will bring healing and health to their bodies. Wisdom brings lasting blessing beyond the moment of obedience.

Proverbs 4:10 (ESV) Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

Children have a choice whether to accept or reject the words of a father. When we teach godly wisdom by both words and example in a loving relationship, our children will be much more prone to accept and embrace our teaching. The final benefit of following the godly wisdom of a father is long life on this earth.

Building Relationships That Endure Through Every Season

What really stands out in these last verses about building a loving relationship, is the benefits the father describes to his son. It’s not enough to say to our children that they must obey because we told them to. We must both share and be examples of the reward that God blesses those with who walk in godly wisdom.

When children leave the home, we have less time with them, so we must make good use of it. In today’s world, we are able to keep in touch much more easily than in years gone by. When I left home to go to graduate school, there were only letters and expensive long distance calls.

Today, we have cell phones, face time, emails and text messages if our children are far away. If they’re in town, take the imitative to plan times together, sometimes individually and if you have more children, in a group setting. Remember, you ability to foster a loving and supportive relationship continues throughout life with your children and your grandchildren.

Conclusion: Running the Race Well Together

As we reflect on the journey of a marathon runner training his children we see a powerful image for the role of fathers. Just as the runner teaches endurance, discipline and perseverance in his children, fathers are called to instill godly wisdom, integrity and love in theirs. This training equips children not for a physical face but for the marathon of life.

God is there to help fathers to embrace and teach godly wisdom. To do that, we must prioritize gaining wisdom and pass it on to our children. God is there to help fathers model of life of integrity and righteousness.

We as fathers must lead by example in our daily actions and words, providing a clear path for children to follow. God is there to help fathers foster loving and supportive relationships with their children. Open communication, consistent encouragement and active involvement is key to building lifelong relationships with our children.

Fathers, your role is pivotal. By embracing godly wisdom, modeling integrity and building loving relationships, you equip your children to run the marathon of life with strength and faith. Let us commit today to be the fathers God has called us to be.

With God’s help, we will guide our children with wisdom, integrity and love, preparing them for the challenges and triumphs ahead.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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