Proverbs 23:24

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about fatherhood:

Proverbs 23:24 (ESV)

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

There are many reasons to rejoice over your children.   First steps; first grade; first date; and first love are all good things to rejoice over.   But Solomon tells us that the ultimate rejoicing is because your son is righteous.   When you raise a son that is wise  you can have gladness in your heart.   Solomon knows that children have evil in their hearts (Proverbs 22:15).   He also knows that discipline is the way that folly is driven from the child.   When we neglect to teach the child or discipline the child we will not see the rejoicing Solomon speaks of here.  It is important to remember that truth as we read this verse.   The passive reader may think that we can "father" (give birth is the meaning of the word) a wise, righteous son.   But Solomon is not suggesting we have the luck of the draw here.   What he is saying is that if you raise a righteous son you will be rejoicing and glad.   It is a sad thing to raise a child who rejects God.   We can rejoice when they, by faith, follow God and fear The Lord.