Proverbs 20:20–21 (ESV)
20 If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
God takes the honoring of parents seriously. Solomon warns that the one who curses his father or mother invites God’s judgment upon herself. This is far more than speaking disrespectfully. The Hebrew verb describes calling down harm upon another person. Rather than honoring the parents God appointed over her, the foolish child responds with contempt and rebellion. Instead of speaking words of blessing, she speaks words of cursing.
The consequence for such rebellion is severe. “His lamp will be put out in utter darkness.” Throughout Proverbs, a lamp often symbolizes life itself. God promised long life to those who honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12). Here Solomon presents the opposite. Those who persist in dishonoring their parents should not expect God’s blessing but his judgment.
The next proverb warns against gaining an inheritance too quickly. Many parents work diligently for years to leave something behind for their children. The greedy person, however, cannot wait. She wants the family wealth now rather than in God’s time. Whether driven by greed or impatience, she values immediate gain more than honoring the people from whom that inheritance would one day come.
Solomon warns that “an inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” What is pursued through greed will never enjoy God’s favor. The person who cannot wait for God’s timing may gain wealth, but she will never receive the satisfaction she hoped it would bring.
If you are a parent, remember that honoring parents is first learned at home. Loving mothers and fathers do not seek their children’s approval above their obedience to God. They lovingly teach, correct, and model what it means to honor the Lord, trusting that his ways always lead to life. The greatest inheritance you can leave your children is not wealth, but a faithful example that points them to the cross.