Sound Guidance for Today’s Youth

“Hear, my son, and accept my sayings. . . . I will instruct you even in the way of wisdom.”​—Proverbs 4:10, 11.

1, 2. (a) What questions are addressed to young people? (b) Where can reliable answers be found?

AS A young person, are you concerned about your future? Does the world sometimes seem frightening? Would you like to know how to deal with life’s problems and where to find reliable guidance and sound wisdom?

² You can find such help in an ancient book that offers to give “to a young man knowledge and thinking ability.” What is that book? It is the book of PROVERBS, in the Bible. If you are a young person, you should read that Bible book, for it can help you to be happy and successful. If you are an adult, especially a parent, that book can aid you in seeing how you can best help your children or young friends. The first nine chapters Pr 1-9 of Proverbs provide counsel as from a loving father to his son. He says: “Hear, my son, and accept my sayings. . . . I will instruct you even in the way of wisdom.”​—Proverbs 1:1-4; 4:10, 11.

3. What information, of value to youths, does the book of Proverbs provide?

³ Of course, not everyone wants such help. Some people prefer to do things their way. They do not want advice​—not even from God. But Proverbs says: “A wise person will listen and take in more instruction.” (Proverbs 1:5) This book shows how to have a happier life. It deals with moral law. It shows the happy results of right living. It can help you make wise decisions. It shows that wisdom and knowledge will give pleasure and that staying away from troublemakers can save your life. The book of Proverbs provides skillful direction, both for you young people and for your elders.

Wisdom and Knowledge

4, 5. (a) How available is wisdom? (b) Why will many persons not listen? (c) What do you think is the wise course? Why?

⁴ God who created all things is also the source of wisdom. He wants his wise way known. He has it proclaimed “in the very street” so everyone can hear. But most persons do not want to listen. Many do not like the source from which it comes. Proverbs says: “The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom.” And: “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised.”​—Proverbs 1:20; 9:10; 1:7.

⁵ Many persons do not want to obey God. They like things the way they are, whereas “the fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad.” (Proverbs 8:13) Fearing Jehovah would keep them from doing things that displease him. The wise course is to learn his ways and principles and obey him above all others. This will keep you from doing things that would cause you shame, injury, heartaches, or that could even cost you your life.

6. What do you have to do to gain wisdom?

⁶ While wisdom is available for all, you have to reach out to gain it. You have to want it, work for it and treasure it. This requires time and effort. It would be good to ask yourself: ‘What am I really doing with my life? What are my goals? Am I spending a great deal of time on useless things, or am I using the time I have available during my youth to dig for knowledge and wisdom?’ Wisdom is worth more than jewels, and “all other delights themselves cannot be made equal to it.” (Proverbs 8:1, 5, 6, 11) Do you dig for it as you would for silver, or for hidden treasure? Proverbs says: “If you keep seeking for it as for silver and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God. For Jehovah himself gives wisdom; out of his mouth there are knowledge and discernment.” Do you put that kind of effort into learning about God’s Word?​—Proverbs 2:4-6.

7. (a) What can you do to make study and learning easier? (b) Why is this worth the effort?

⁷ You may be thinking: ‘But I don’t like to study​—reading is such a bore!’ Yet the more you read, the easier reading becomes. The more you learn, the easier learning is. You connect new information with things you already know, and you understand them better. As you make the effort, God blesses you. As your knowledge and understanding grow, you will find great joy in learning, and things you learn from God’s Word will protect you in today’s world. These are not just nice-sounding words or wishes. It is fact, truth, as Proverbs says: “When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way, from the man speaking perverse things, from those leaving the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.”​—Proverbs 2:10-13.

WISDOM combines knowledge with sound judgment. It is the ability to use knowledge in a successful way, to solve problems and avoid dangers. It implies a breadth of knowledge and a depth of understanding that give soundness and clarity of judgment. If you had knowledge but did not know how to use it, you would lack wisdom. “Wisdom is the prime thing,” for without it knowledge is of little value.​—Proverbs 4:7.