Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 1-4
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7
There is a tremendous contrast between the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs. Part of this contrast comes from the differences in the two principal writers, David and Solomon. Both were kings who loved the Lord. But David was a man of war, a soldier who fought the battles of Israel. Solomon spent time contemplating the great questions of life and applying his God-given wisdom to the difficult issues of everyday existence.
I believe there’s a lesson for us here as Christian parents. It has to do with allowing our children to be themselves and not trying to force them into the same kinds of educational and career choices we made for ourselves.
Apparently, David was quite happy to see Solomon develop into a much different kind of person than he had been. But David did try to pass on important spiritual principles to his son. David prayed that Solomon would be a righteous man who loved God and kept His commandments. And in the first nine chapters of Proverbs, we see Solomon seeking to pass along those same spiritual principles to his own son. The first nine chapters of Proverbs could well be called a manual for young men and women, to guide them in their growing-up years.
If you are a parent with young people in the home, you might want to have a family meeting and suggest reading a paragraph or two of the first nine chapters of Proverbs out loud, then talking about what you read. The time might prove so valuable that you’ll continue the practice and finish the whole book! Let’s help our children to be themselves and encourage them to follow the Lord with all their hearts.
Prayer
Lord, show me how to encourage my children to be comfortable with who they are and to follow You wholeheartedly. Amen.
To Ponder
God has a special job for you that no one else can do.
DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION 