Proverbs 4  Again Solomon repeats, pounding in his point, that we need to listen to the "sound teaching".. the instructions of the father.. of our Father.. we must:
give attention to it
refuse to abandon it
keep it
acquire it
guard it
never turn away or forsake it
prize it
honor it
embrace it
take hold of it
incline our ears to it
watch over our hearts diligently to keep it
fix our gaze on it
watch our paths to keep our feet straight on it

See how important it is to stay in God's Word! And to teach it to our children day and night, as Moses taught in Deuteronomy 6:7 "and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."  We are to "bind" them, these Words of Life, to our hands and to our heads... to know the Word and to do the Word.  This is more important than a great education or a great skill or talent, a successful career, or any amount of money or possessions.

Again, Solomon tells of the benefits of acquiring, purchasing, wisdom and understanding:
She (wisdom)  will guard you and watch over you. 
She will exalt you.
She will honor you.
She will crown you with grace and beauty.
You will have many years of life.
Your paths will not be blocked or impeded.
"And if you run, you will not stumble."
She will lead to life.
She will bring light and more light.
The Word brings life and " health to all their whole body."
Your heart will overflow with "springs of life".
Your ways will be established.

The way of wisdom, the way of righteousness, that begins in the fear of the Lord and is found in His sacred Word, is indeed the key to Life, to all that is "good and acceptable and perfect," (Romans 12:2).  We must not allow ourselves to be "conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove ( discern) what the will of God is..."  God has given us all we need for life, real life, in His Word.

Solomon also adds for us the warning of what happens if we turn away, if we are not diligent, if we let go...
"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.... (for) the way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (v 14,15, 19)

So, what do we do with these words from our Father?  If we believe them and want to obey them, then we will pray and ask the Lord to enable us to be diligent to seek His wisdom and to hear His Voice and to walk in His ways.  We will be more conscientious about teaching the Word to our children and grandchildren. And so I pray:

Father in heaven, Holy and Blessed are You in all the earth!  You are the Creator and Sustainer of Life and You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  Father, fill me now with Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love, of power, and of sound minds, that I might acquire wisdom and understanding, that I might keep Your Word and diligently teach Your Word to any and all that come into my life, especially my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Oh Father , I ask, seek, and knock, coming to Your throne of grace, that I might live according to Your Word, to please You in every way and bearing fruit in every good work.  As always, I pray for Your saving grace to bring my loved ones to  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I ask this in His Name. Amen.