A Family Legacy of Discretion

Proverbs 5:
1. My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
2. That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

The word discretion [mezimmah], as used here, carries the meaning of “being in charge of ones own decision making, taking responsibility, not impulsive,” such as in: “The decision was left to his own discretion.” In some places this same Hebrew word carries the meaning of evil devices.

“He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous [mezimmah] person.” (Proverbs 24:8)

The word as used in the context of our proverb today does not allow for these negative implications and Webster’s 1828 Dictionary provides a helpful definition of discretion.

“Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment, directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding one’s own conduct.”

And where does this discernment of good and evil come from? It comes from the Word of God.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14)

It is interesting that discernment is so closely connected with maturity, and this is exactly what we are trying to achieve in our Family Legacy, a next generation does not think and act like children, but like mature men and women.