What Does the Book of Proverbs Teach About Family
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"THE BOOK OF PROVERBS" Wisdom Regarding Family INTRODUCTION ane. Equally we continue our report of the Proverbs, we should keep in mind two things: a. Life is short b. Our eternal beingness is profoundly influenced past how we alive during this curt life 2. It is imperative, then, that nosotros non waste our fourth dimension through rash and foolish decisions... a. Which not only jeopardize our eternal destiny b. But tin also brand this life miserable 3. The value of wisdom is particularly seen in family relationships... a. "He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind..." - Pro 11:29 b. Life is too short and families abound too fast for us to raise a family through "trial and error" 4. We must seek advice in this all-important chore... a. Simply where shall we go? b. To so-chosen "experts" who authoritatively requite advice, but then all besides often change their views afterward afterwards the harm has been done? (e.g., Dr. Spock and his earlier views on child- raising) [Fortunately, in His grace God has preserved in His all-sufficient book the wisdom needed to provide for and raise a family. Much of this wisdom in found in The Book Of Proverbs! To illustrate, let'south first consider some wisdom in...] I. PROVIDING FOR A FAMILY A. WHAT MANY Call back IS Virtually IMPORTANT... one. Many would say it is the "necessities" of life a. Such equally food and clothing b. And a place of shelter ii. Most would feel that other things are as well necessary... a. Such equally the "finer things" (luxuries) for the children, which parents never had as children b. A practiced "education" for the children, and so they too can exist affluent [While at that place is some merit in these things, inspired wisdom from The Book Of Proverbs teaches us non to place emphasis upon such fabric things...] B. WHERE THE EMPHASIS SHOULD Exist... 1. Instilling a fearfulness of the Lord - Pr xv:xvi a. More important than riches is providing for your family through your own example a deep and abiding respect for the Lord b. For the fear of the Lord provides: a. The beginning of knowledge - Pr 1:7 b. A means to prolong life - Pr 10:27 c. The cardinal to avoiding sin - Pr 16:6 d. The key to true wealth - Pr 22:4 c. The fearfulness of the Lord, and so, is perhaps the most important "provision" that one tin give to his or her family 2. Giving them love - Pr 15:17 a. Providing an environs where beloved reigns is more than important than providing textile abundance b. Troubled children come from homes where "love" is lacking, not money! iii. Providing a peaceful family life - Pr 17:1 a. Where there is peace and tranquility in a family, material affluence matters little b. Just what value is there in wealth, if we are e'er fighting over the things information technology provides? 4. A wise father (or mother) realizes that spiritual provisions are more than important than material ones a. They will see that the family receives what is truly important b. Even it means cutting back on less important things [But when God's wisdom is truly followed, information technology won't be necessary to become without textile necessities! To run across why, consider what tin be done...] C. TO ENSURE ADEQUATE Material PROVISIONS... 1. Be righteous - Pr 20:7 a. Today that means putting the kingdom of God first in your life - Mt half dozen:33 b. So God volition sentinel out for you lot and providentially encounter that your needs are adequately met! c. Children of righteous parents are truly blest! d. But parents who neglect to put God first go through life without God'southward providential help, and their children may endure as a result! ii. Concentrate on acquiring wisdom and knowledge, not wealth - Pro 24:three-four a. This would involve a careful report and application of God'south Word, specially a book like Proverbs b. But it also involves living a dedicated life every bit a disciple (learner) of Jesus Christ, in whom are subconscious the treasures of wisdom and cognition - cf. Col two:two-3 [From the Proverbs, then, we learn that the best and wisest matter parents tin can exercise for their family unit is to provide themselves as obedient servants of God, and to instill such faith in their children. If this is washed, God volition see that their material needs are met! Merely what about the thing of raising children...?] II. RAISING CHILDREN A. THE PROPER USE OF CORPOREAL Penalization... one. Used properly, it is a demonstration of truthful love - Pr thirteen:24 2. Proper field of study has proper objectives... a. To remove foolishness from the kid - Pr 22:15 b. To save the soul of the child - Pr 23:13-14 c. To impart wisdom and to avoid shame - Pr 29:15 three. Proper discipline has its rewards - Pr 29:17 a. Such equally "residuum" and "delight" b. A child who will dearest you and live in such a way equally to bring you delight 4. Of course, there must exist the proper application of corporeal penalization - Pr xix:eighteen a. To be applied before the situation gets of out mitt ("while in that location is hope") b. To exist applied nether controlled circumstances ("do not set your centre on his devastation") 1) I.e., do non put it off until yous strike in anger two) There is a departure betwixt proper "spanking" and "child corruption"! c. Corporeal punishment should never be a vent for letting off steam... 1) Rather, a controlled use of one method to discourage bad behavior 2) To be accompanied with love! - cf. Ep 6:4 (every bit implied past the word "nurture") B. More WISDOM FROM A FAMILIAR Verse - Pr 22:vi 1. As unremarkably translated: "train upwards a child in the way he should go" a. This allows for the common interpretation in which a child's outcome is virtually dependent upon his training, especially in spiritual matters 1) I.east., if the kid is brought up right by godly parents, the child must plough out all correct ii) Then if a kid is not a faithful Christian, it must ever be a failing of the parents b. But this view suggests "environmental predestination", or "behavioral determinism" (shades of B. F. Skinner, cf. his book "Walden Two") ii. Literally, the verse can be translated: "train up a child according to his style" a. That is, railroad train up a child according to his or her inclinations b. For example, don't try to forcefulness a child who is mechanically inclined to be a dr. or a lawyer c. Rather, bring up a kid according to his or her bent, and they will likely go on what they start out in life doing (i.e., no "mid-life" crunch or career changes) d. Therefore, this verse, like so many in Proverbs, is simply giving us practical advice in raising our children (without necessarily any spiritual implications) 3. However, I might add that trying to force a child to go against their "bent" may encourage a kid to insubordinate in all areas of parental influence (including spiritual) CONCLUSION 1. My purpose has non been to provide an exhaustive treatment of this subject covered in Proverbs ii. Rather, to illustrate its value to Christians in all areas of our lives... a. That it does speak to such matters every bit providing for a family, raising children b. So that we will study and meditate on information technology more often Since so much of our happiness or lack of information technology is afflicted by our family life, we should want to take advantage of the wisdom offered in this area past the book of Proverbs...! << Previous | Index | Next >> Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
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