A Wise Man
Most of us can name men who helped shape who we are.
Maybe it was your dad. Maybe it was a pastor, teacher, coach, older brother, friend, or another father figure. They taught you right from wrong. They showed you how to work hard, how to treat others, how to pray, how to lead, or how to follow Jesus.
That kind of influence does not happen by accident.
Proverbs 4 gives us a picture of wisdom being passed down from one generation to another. A father teaches his son the wisdom he received from his own father. The lesson is clear: a wise man leads others into wisdom by practicing it himself.
This is a word for everyone, but it is especially important for men. Men lead in many different places: in their own lives, in marriage, in the home, in the church, and at work. A wise man does not simply tell others where to go. He walks in the way of wisdom so others can follow him.
A Wise Man Acquires Wisdom
The first instruction in Proverbs 4 is simple:
“Get wisdom; get insight.” (Proverbs 4:7)
A wise man does not assume he already knows everything he needs to know. He listens. He learns. He receives instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but God often gives wisdom through parents, teachers, pastors, and faithful friends. One of the best gifts a father can give his children is a life that shows them what it looks like to fear the Lord.
Proverbs 14:26 says, “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”
That is the kind of confidence a family needs. Not confidence in ourselves, our ability, or our plans. Confidence in the Lord.
Men who want to lead others well must continue acquiring wisdom. Find people who fear the Lord. Listen to them. Learn from them. Let God use them to help you grow.
A Wise Man Avoids Wickedness
Proverbs 4 gives a direct warning:
“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.” (Proverbs 4:14-15)
A wise man leads by example.
There is no room for “Do as I say, not as I do.” The people who follow us will notice what we do much faster than they remember what we say. A man who wants to lead his family, church, or workplace well must avoid wickedness himself.
That does not mean a wise man is perfect. It means he is serious about the path he walks. He knows that the way of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter. He also knows that wickedness is like deep darkness.
Children especially need this kind of leadership. They need fathers and father figures who warn them about the paths that lead to harm, while also showing them the better way.
A Wise Man Guards His Heart
Proverbs 4:23 gives one of the clearest instructions in all of Proverbs:
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
The heart is where our thoughts, desires, words, and actions begin. What comes into the heart eventually flows out into everyday life.
A wise man guards his heart by paying attention to what is shaping him. He is careful about who speaks into his life. He is mindful of what he watches, what he listens to, and what he allows to take root in his mind.
He also pays attention to what comes out of him.
Crooked speech, devious talk, uncontrolled anger, and unstable emotions reveal that something is wrong in the heart. The people under our care need to know they can trust us. They need to see that we are stable enough to lead them through difficult moments.
A wise man guards his heart because he knows others are drinking from the springs of life that flow from it.
A Wise Man Directs His Eyes
Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”
Where our eyes go, our feet often follow.
A wise man directs his eyes toward what matters most. He thinks long term. He does not chase every distraction or set his sights on things that will never satisfy. He considers the path of his feet because he knows his choices affect more than himself.
This is especially true for fathers, husbands, church leaders, and men who influence others. The direction of a man’s life often becomes the direction of the people who are following him.
That is why Hebrews 12:2 gives us the greatest instruction of all: look to Jesus.
Jesus is the all-wise man. He shows us how to live by faith, endure pain with joy, put guilt and shame in their place, and walk faithfully before God. He went to the cross for us, rose from the grave, and now sits at the right hand of God.
Men, fix your eyes on Jesus.
Acquire His wisdom. Avoid wickedness. Let Him guard your heart. Direct your eyes toward Him.
A wise man leads others into wisdom by modeling it himself. The greatest lesson you can pass down to those you love is not simply what you know. It is a life well lived, one step after another, on the path of the righteous.
As you look to Jesus, lead the way.
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