Raising Kids in the Age of Foolishness

There are enough fools in the world!

Raising Kids in The Age of Foolishness: Beginners are Naive

No one is born wise. We are all inexperienced and naïve. Babies and toddlers lack perspective. It is not their fault. They just have not lived long enough to acquire it. Proverbs has a lot to say about the simple-minded. Proverbs 1:1-4 provides us with five “to” statements, defining the purpose of Solomon’s writings. Four and five say, “To give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion.” The word “naïve” is often translated as simple or simple-minded. The simple are comparable to the youth who are the true audience of Proverbs. Solomon’s upbringing was not filled with wise guidance from his father, David. In fact, David was absent most of Solomon’s life. Perhaps his mother, Bathsheba poured as much wisdom as possible into her son, but there is no replacement for a wise and involved father. Fatherless homes are a major contributor to the foolishness we see in this world. God is going to hold fathers responsible for the lack of training of their sons and daughters. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 gives parents the responsibility of saturating their children with the truth given by God. Ephesians 6:1-4 gives parents, especially the father, the mandate to bring children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Proverbs 1:8 further makes the point of parental responsibility. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Though “advisors” will be mentioned in Proverbs, parents are the ones tasked with shaping the simple-minded into mature wise adults.

Naïve is the word pethi in Hebrew. Which translation is better, simple or naïve? The literal translators of the New American Standard Bible chose naïve. The concept is one of being “open minded.” This may seem to be an admirable quality, yet in this context it implies one who can be easily misled. A child-predator can easily deceive a child because the mind of a child is open to the point of being overly trusting. As we will see, the naïve person is lacking in protective understanding. The naïve person is vulnerable. This too can be positive in certain contexts but must be kept in balance because of those who prey on the vulnerable. The goal is what Jesus said: “Be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.” The word “simple” can mean uncomplicated. This concept does not capture the intent of pethi. Therefore, the term “naïve” is to be preferred as the better translation.

When a parent properly views their child as inherently naïve, they have a baseline for training. This does not mean the child is a fool, at least not yet. But how the twig is bent at an early age will determine the outcome of that child’s life. “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) THERE ARE ENOUGH FOOLS IN THE WORLD.