Wisdom from Proverbs 31 for Moms

The wisdom imparted by King Lemuel’s mother to her son is one of the most significant pieces of advice for anyone desiring to navigate life with integrity. In Proverbs 31:2-3, she speaks with a clarity born of experience, urging him:

“Oh my son whom I have dedicated to the Lord, do not spend your time with women—the royal path to destruction.” (TLB)

This admonition, echoed more in the TEV version, “Don’t spend your time on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings.”

What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. (Proverbs 31:2–5)
     
Many moms remind their sons to clean their rooms, finish their food, be on time, and avoid wasting things. While these are good instructions to teach, on their own they provide only practical help. Without deeper a foundation of weightier instruction, that will preserve them beyond this life.

Wisdom handpicked for moms

The litany of leasers and kings ruined by women is as long as history itself. Kings, presidents, generals, politicians, general overseers, founders of global ministries, anointed men of God, CEO’s and high flying individuals from all walks of life have been victims.

Great men have been shipwrecked and reduced to pieces of bread by immorality. People once held in high esteem become object of mockeries, and topics of tabloids.

Sexual sin is no respecter of status, it can entangle whoever and whenever.

Lemuel’s mother had watched the repeated crash of titans from grace to disgrace and determined that their fate must not befall her son. Perhaps she saw what happened to her own husband, Solomon, whose wisdom was marred by his indulgence in sexual immorality.

She vowed that her son would not suffer the same fate. From an early age, she made it a priority to instill in him the truth that would guide his life. While Lemuel was still young, sitting at her feet, she hammered these lessons into his heart, preparing him for the challenges that lay ahead.

Proverbs 31:1-10 reveals her words, which were full of prophetic insight. She spoke not only of avoiding the pitfalls of lust but also of the importance of wise choices in relationships.

Sexual sin shipwreck destiny. Life is a short journey from time to eternity. it’s only one life we have and to have that one life ruined by immorality is too costly. Lemuel’s mother warned him (while pulling his ears I believe) to steer clear of those who have ruin kings. It was a prophetic revelation – an instruction inspired by a prophetic understanding of what lay ahead of him.

She warned him against drunkenness and docility, encouraging him to spend his energy pursuing the benefits of others thus leaving less time for idle mind to wander into lust. she proceeded to describe the kind of wife he needed – a virtuous woman, a faithful marriage partner that would make it unnecessary for him to seek satisfaction outside. What a mother!

While our sons may not face direct solicitation from prostitutes on the street, they are still vulnerable to the dangers of the internet, where harmful images and individuals can tempt them. Without the guidance, warnings, and prayers of their godly mothers to protect them, they may be drawn into responding to the sexual advances of corrupt individuals online. Even if they don’t engage, they could be tempted to normalize or dismiss such behaviors, potentially affirming what God calls an abomination (Romans 1:32).

Maybe the casualty rate of today would not be so high these days if mothers once more take their place to protect the future of the kings God has given them to raise for this generation.

Could the epidemic of sexual sin ravaging this generation be directly connected to a failure of parental discipline which was not instituted when the heart was yet malleable? As some one has asserted, It is impossible to straighten an oak the crook that grew in the sapling. Apart from avoiding this plague ourselves. May God safeguard the awesome potentials of our children, delivering them from the royal pathway to destruction.

Many years later, the King actually remembered and was rephrasing his mothers lessons on this passage. They were so inscribed on his heart, too etched into his character that he never forgot them.

This is the time we have to instill this message in the heart of our sons,