“To know wisdom and
instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in
wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity” (Proverbs 1:2-3).
These words seem quaint and
impractical and archaic: wisdom, instruction, discern, sayings of
understanding, wise behavior, righteousness, justice, equity. Strung together
they present a view of life in opposition to our pragmatic approach to learning
and our utilitarian perspective of life. Yet their author was passing on a
heritage to his son, just as his father had passed a heritage on to him.
We think in terms of “compartmentalization”
while the authors of Proverbs see life holistically – as an integrated whole.
We educate so that people will have jobs, the authors of Proverbs educate so
that others will have character. We train for the short-term, to acquire skills
to achieve goals of position, money, power, and possessions; Proverbs educates
for the long-term so that we may cultivate a life.
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