Proverbs for Parents
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Think back to where you were and what you were doing in 1984. In 1984 I turned 12 years old. It was also the year when I was first introduced to something that literally would change the entire world. What was it? It was the computer. Although computers had been around for awhile at this point, they were definetely not houselhold items like they are today. However, in 1984 my father purchased our first computer. He spent several thousand dollars on this computer. He purchased a KayPro 4.
KayPro 4
At the time, it was one of the most impressive computers on the market. Listen to some of the specs of this computer:
It was fully transportable.
It had a lightning fast 4 MHz processor speed!
It had a whopping 64 kb of memory.
It had a built-in 9 inch monochrome monitor.
It had a built-in 300 baud modem.
It had two DS/DD half-height floppy drives.
The system came bundled with Wordstar, dBase II, MicroPlan, Microsoft Basic, S-Basic, SuperCalc, C-Basic and CP/M 2.2! These programs were not pre-installed as they are on computers today. They had to be run from a 5.5 inch floppy disk. (Show picture.) Whichever floppy disk was loaded into the computer dictated what the computer did. For this reason, that computer was very much like young people as you hopefully will see in a few moments.
Let’s get back to the book of Proverbs.
General points about the book of Proverbs.
General points about the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs was written by a father to a son.
Proverbs was written by a father to a son.
The book of Proverbs was written as much to parents as it was to young people.
The book of Proverbs was written as much to parents as it was to young people.
There are 4 main types of people that we are introduced to in the book of Proverbs.
There are 4 main types of people that we are introduced to in the book of Proverbs.
The wise.
The wise.
The foolish.
The foolish.
The simple.
The simple.
The scorner.
The scorner.
Specific Principles from Proverbs.
Specific Principles from Proverbs.
I “beheld among the simple ones.” – Children/Young People
I “beheld among the simple ones.” – Children/Young People
Children, because of their youth, have been cursed with at least a little bit of simplicity.
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,
Children, because they are sinners, have a natural bent toward foolishness.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
In addition, children/young people have “empty hearts.”
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,
The heart is the seat of our emotions.
The heart is the control center of the life.
Whatever or whoever controls the heart controls the actions of a person.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Our children’s hearts have not been “programmed” yet and because of that a very important question must be asked: Who and what is programming the heart of our children?
“My son, keep my words…write them upon the table of thine heart.” - Parents/Fathers
“My son, keep my words…write them upon the table of thine heart.” - Parents/Fathers
My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commandments, and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, Write them upon the table of thine heart.
King Solomon is on the side of wisdom.
The responsibility of “programming” your children’s heart belongs specifically to the fathers.
Thank God for every tool at your disposal to help you train your children. Organized schools can be a wonderful blessing. Certainly, we should be thankful for a Sunday school that puts truth into the minds of our children. However, the basic responsibility to see to it that your children learn the truth, that they don’t just learn “stuff,” is yours! Evangelist Bill Rice III
“The stranger which flattereth with her words.” – Foolish Influences
“The stranger which flattereth with her words.” – Foolish Influences
This stranger is representative of anyone or anything that seeks to lead someone in the wrong way.
This young man in Proverbs 7 followed after this strange woman.
He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Young people today are being "programmed” by…
Television & Movies (Netflix, etc.)
Social Media
Music (There is a “wrong” kind of music; There is a “right” kind of music.)
Video games & Technology
Books & Magazines
Educational institutions (elementary school, middle school, high school, college & university)
and the list could go on.
We need to understand the struggle that is going on for the hearts and minds of our children and teenagers!
We need to understand the struggle that is going on for the hearts and minds of our children and teenagers!
Wisdom to the Simple, “Be Wise!”
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
The Foolish to the Simple, “Be Foolish!”
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: And as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
What does this all have to do with parents/fathers?
What does this all have to do with parents/fathers?
In Proverbs 7:1-3, Solomon writes...
“My son, keep my words…keep my commandments…write them upon the table of thine heart.”
What words and commandments was Solomon referring to?
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
I believe that Solomon is referring to this, a very sacred portion of Scripture to every Jew. The “words” which God had commanded the Jews had become Solomon’s “words.”
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, Forsake ye not my law.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Parents...
Do you love God? Is God’s Word in your heart?
Do we need to recommit ourselves - individually and collectively as a church family - to the Word of God? Have we been slack in teaching our children God’s Word? Are there ungodly influences in our homes that we need to get rid of?
To truly understand the importance of all of this, all we have to do is consider the end of Proverbs chapter 7.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, And attend to the words of my mouth.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, Go not astray in her paths.
For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, Going down to the chambers of death.