Wisdom of the Ages: Five Things I've Learned in 30 Years

Celebrating my recent 31st birthday in April and my son being born the same month, I have been thinking a lot of what life was like when I was a kid, how I will be a father to the two of my boys, and the wisdom that I will pass down to them. Today, I just want to write about five things I have learned over the past 30 years and how they have helped me:

1. "The glory of young men is their strength" (Pro 20:29). We can spend the strength of our life on a lot of things: some things that yield great return, and some things that only turn to ash and nothing. I have spent my life on both and have found that when I have used my strength to work with the Father it was never wasted. In fact, there are decisions that I made when I was 18 that are still paying off for me today, and the reason they are still benefitting me today is because I chose to use my strength to obey God. There are also things I decided to do at 18 where I chose to spend my strength to serve myself and I am still paying the price for those decisions. The first 30 years of my life has taught me to use my strength to serve God, because doing otherwise will cost me more than I want to pay.
2. "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?" (Lk 12:42). I was not always the best at what I did, but I always made sure to treat what those in authority over me gave me as if it was my own. Meaning, I took care of what was given to me as if it was the most important thing in my life. This has been one of the most rewarding aspects for me and my family. I still have relationships from when I was younger that carry great weight, all because I treated what they gave me as if it was the most important thing in my life. One of the keys to increase in life is being diligent with what others give you to do.
3. "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Pro 27:17). I always placed myself, or found myself, around people who were greater than I, so that I could grow and become like them. Essentially, their life "sharpened" my life. I have a long list of people who have made a profound impact on my life in many ways, and if it was not for them I would not be who I am today. Find people who are further down the road than you are and let them shape your life; give them space to speak into your life in a way that propels you further than you are now and watch how much you grow! People like that love to share what they have, so just ask them and enjoy what they have to give! 
4. "A worker's appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on" (Pro 16:26). If you work as hard as you are hungry then you will eat well. In other words, working hard pays off! As I was going through the ranks of my teenage years and into my 20's I always saw people complaining or being lazy about the menial work--I also saw those people going hungry! I always chose to work hard, still do, and because of that I have made a way that is better than going hungry. I jokingly tell people, "I like to eat, so I like to work." Not all work is fun, but working hard is rewarding. Don't let laziness or complaining get in the way of a good work ethic, or you will go hungry because of it! 
5. "Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the earth" (Eph 6:2-3). I saved this for last because it is most important. Remember where you came from and honor that, no matter what it looks like! Parents are always deserving of honor, because without them you would literally not be here. We should at least honor the people who gave birth to our life, evermore so for the things they have poured into our life. Honor is a principle that when worked out takes us further in life than we could have taken ourselves. Honor brings inheritance to those that use it. Honor the place you came from, the people who were a father and mother to you, it will take you further than you can take yourself.