Truth My Kids Will Know - They're Smarter Than You

 Lie # 13 - I don't need to listen to my parents. 

Do you remember the days when TV showed kind and loving parents who would always help their kids get out of trouble with their wise advice?

No...I don't remember it either. But I've heard there was a time when that was the case!

What are parents like on most of today's kids TV shows?

A lot of times, parents are the villains of the story - causing problems for their kids because of their bad intentions and selfish behavior. If they're ever shown as good people, then they're still likely to be ignorant of what's going on. Even the best-intentioned TV parents are usually shown apologizing and changing their beliefs at the end of the story. (When was the last movie or TV show you watched where the kid apologizes to the parent for what they did?)

Those are the examples when the parents are actually present. But a lot of times, they're just missing altogether. As the kids figure their lives out for themselves, mom and dad are nowhere to be seen. But somehow...those kids always seem to know the best choices to make. 

Maybe that's too broad of a generalization - this seems to mirror the current attitude of kids toward their parents.
"Sure, they knew about things in their day - but we live in a different time now. Why should I listen to someone who can't even use their phone correctly?"

But there's an old fashioned idea that a lot of teenagers seem to be completely ignorant of: Your parents actually know more than you do! It's funny...because from birth until about ten years old, kids know this. And then they seem to remember it again around the age of twenty. But how much trouble and grief do young people get into during that ten year span? How much of it could've been avoided by listening to their parents?

If you want a HUGE head start in your life...

If a major advantage over your peers is something that interests you...

If you want all the advantage of hindsight right now...

...Then take your parent's advice to heart while you're young.

What they tell you comes from lessons they learned in their lifetime. In fact...your mom and dad's wisdom is your gateway to the good life!

Biblical Warnings: Repeated Over and Over

Do you know what the most repeated command in the book Proverbs is?

"Listen to your parent's advice!

Here are just a few times you see it: (don't let yourself skip over these!)

Proverbs 1:8 - "My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother..."

Proverbs 3:1 - "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands."

Proverbs 4:1 - "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding..."

Proverbs 4:10 - "Hear, my son, and receive my sayings..."

Proverbs 4:20 - "My son, give attention to my words..."

Proverbs 5:1 - "My son, pay attention to my wisdom..."

Proverbs 5:7 - "Therefore hear me now, my children..."

And that's only from the first five chapters!

We see this over and over again. God repeatedly tells us to pay attention to what our parents have to say. We're told to receive their sayings and keep them. We're even warned about allowing ourselves to forget their words.

Clearly what your mom and dad are telling you is important to God. But why?

Your Life Is On The Line

Why should we put such an emphasis on what our parents say? Because their advice brings protection and blessing...but only when it's listened to.

After Proverbs 1:8 tells us to hear our parent's instruction and not forsake it, we're then told that it will "be a graceful ornament on your head."

After Proverbs 3:1 warns us about forgetting their commands, verse 2 tells us that those commands will bring "length of days and long life and peace..."

Proverbs 4:10 follows up "Hear, my son, and receive my sayings" with "and the years of your life will be many."

Referring to the saying of a father, Proverbs 4:22 says "they are life to those who find them..."

Grace, honor, long life, peace...

Clearly this is a serious issue - even a matter of life and death. The reason God tells you to listen to your parents over and over is because your life may literally depend it! God clearly says that you can increase your lifespan by paying attention to your parents' words. What's more, it's not only your length of life, but their words can even affect your quality of life if you listen to them. 

How many teens never made it to adulthood because they didn't listen? How many times have wealth and riches been ignored by ignorant young people, just because it was wrapped up in the ordinary words of their parents? It's so simple! 

And yet, sadly, it always seems to be missed by each generation.

This is the generational pattern that seems to be followed constantly:

1 - Every generation has dismissed their parents' advice when they were young.

    "Why would I listen to them?"

2 - And as they get older, every generation came to the realization that their parents were actually right all along.

    "Why didn't I listen to them?"

3 - And finally as parents themselves, every generation has tried to help their kids - only to have their advice dismissed.

    "Why won't they just listen to me?"

Seeing this cycle, wouldn't it be better for you to get ahead of it? If you're going to eventually admit that they're right about what they're saying, why not get it over with now?

Like it or not - here's the truth:

Your parents are smarter than you. You would be a fool to ignore them when they try to help you.

Of course they make mistakes. Of course they don't know everything. But I promise you....they know more than you think.

How silly would it be for a you to have a lifetime of wisdom available (gained from both good and bad experiences) only to dismiss it all and do your own thing?

While the world is encouraging the next generation to strike out on their own and figure things out for themselves, my kids will understand most of those things were already figured out...by their mom and dad!