Wed. Bible Studies: What My Children Must Know (Week 7)

DON'T BE LAZY

There is no way to underestimate the problems that are caused if a child doesn’t learn to work.  Literally, nothing they ever do will ever be the way it is supposed to be.

Whatever job they take, they must learn to work.

Whatever they study in school, they must work.

They must work if they are to be a good mother.

They must work if they are to be a good father.

They must work if they have a home.

They must work if they are in a church.

They must work in everything they do if they are to be successful.

Solomon taught often on subjects pertaining to work and laziness.

7 times he taught him about work

11 times he taught him about slothful

6 times he taught him about sluggard

12 times he taught him about sleep

7 times he taught him about diligent

Day 1 – The lazy will always be under someone.

Prov 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. 

Day 2 – A lazy person will have a harder way to go, but the righteous will have an easier way.

Prov 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.  

Day 3 – The lazy person always has an excuse why he can’t work.

Prov 22:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 

Day 4 – The lazy is always sleeping too long.

Prov 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 

Day 5 – If you sleep too much, you will be poor.

Prov 24:33-34 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Day 6 – Work hard without anyone telling you to work.

Prov 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Day 7 – The lazy man will want a lot, but will have nothing.

Prov 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

 

1. Start your children working before they find out it is bad.  (trash, dishes, bed, room, weeds, mowing)
2. Let them do any work that they can do, even if they don’t do it as good as you would do it.  (If you have to go back after them that is fine, just don’t let them know that.  After a while of them doing it, they will do it fine.)
3. Never let them make excuses for not working (tired, play, friends, headache)
4. When they work, make sure they are being diligent.
5. Don’t let them sleep and sleep.  (Not even during the summer.)
6. Teach them the importance of working first and playing later.
7. Work with your children so they can see you working and so you can show them how to do it.
8. Teach them to work for their mom, or dad, or for others.  Don’t let them think work is just for them, or just to make money.
9. Don’t pay them for doing the jobs that they should do just for being a part of the home, but you can set up extra jobs for them to do to earn money, so they will learn the value of work, money, saving and giving.

A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE

  A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE

     Could I ask you a very personal question?  How is your marriage?  Is it sweet, warm and fulfilling?  If it isn’t, it could be.  Marriage can be the most wonderful relationship on the earth.  Marriage pictures our relationship to Christ.  It is sad, but so many marriages are in shambles.  I talk to  many couples that live with such fighting and bickering that it makes marriage almost unbearable.  I would like you to know that marriage doesn’t have to be that way.  Even if your marriage is bad, it can be changed.  If your marriage is pretty good, it can be great! 

We have started a new Sunday school class simply called, "The Marriage Class."  Every week, we teach principles that help people to have wonderful marriages.  This class is for married people, or people who want to learn how to have a good marriage before they get maried.  This class has been a blessing to a lot of people, and I am sure it could help you, also.  We would love to have you there.  It starts at 10:00 every Sunday morning.  If you have any questions, or need specific counsel, please feel free to call me personally.  (931) 797-1816.

"Helping to keep homes and lives from becoming shipwrecked."

Wed. Bible Studies: What My Children Must Know (Week 6)

TONGUE

There are many times that parents focus on things that aren’t very important.  In teaching our children, we should emphasize the things that God emphasizes.  Many people emphasize what is important to them, but may or may not be important to God.

Solomon talked often his son about the tongue: 51 times "mouth," 46 times "word(s)," 43 times "lip(s)," 19 times "tongue," 18 times "speech, speak (eth)"

The tongue is definitely important to God.  Solomon taught often on this, because James said that if we can control the tongue, we can control the whole body.

 James 3:2-6 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body .

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body .

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body , and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

 We all want teenagers to control their bodies, but it starts with teaching children to control their tongues.  The simple, "yes, mam" and "no sir", "please and thank you," and "don't talk while adults are talking" is more important than we have given it credit.

Day 1 - Don’t talk bad.

Prov 4:24  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Prov 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Cursing

Slang

Potty language  

Day 2 - Watch out for the words and lips of others

Prov 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

Prov 20:19      He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Prov 24:2        For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Prov 26:24-25  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;      When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Watch out – get ready – people use their lips for bad.

Anything that you don’t want repeated, don’t say it.

We only tell one person – the one that won’t tell anyone else, and they only tell one person, the one that won’t tell anyone else. – right?

Don’t get upset at them for telling, get upset at you for starting it.

Day 3 - Don’t talk a lot or brag.

Prov 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Prov 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Prov 25:6-7Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:           For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Prov 25:14      Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Prov 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Prov 17:28  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

Day 4 - Listen to the mouths of others.

Prov 7:24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Prov 2:6          For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Prov 4:5          Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Two ears – one mouth – why?

You don’t learn anything from talking, but you can learn from listening.

Day 5 - Do talk good.

Prov 10:11  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Prov 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Prov 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Prov 12:14      A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Prov 31:26      She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Literally, if you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.

You should use your tongue to encourage, to praise, to lift up, to build.

Do not use your mouth to destroy and tear down.

Day 6 - Don’t use mouth to hurt.

Prov 11:9        An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Prov 12:6        The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Prov 12:18   There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Day 7 - God hates a lying tongue.

Prov 12:22      Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Prov 21:6  The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Prov 6:16-17   These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17        A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

God talks about a lying tongue.

Be careful to what you listen to, because “I cannot but speak what I have seen and heard.”

BUD-WISER OR BUD-DUMBER

(four people died in the above accident from alcohol)

“BUD-WISER OR BUD-DUMBER”

When I began to write the article for this week, there were about fifteen of our church teenagers here.  I asked them if they had any ideas on what to put in the article.  They had a lot of good ideas that they would like to tell people, but there was one thought that was different than what a lot of teenagers would say.

One of the teenagers said, “Preacher, why don’t you do an article about Budweiser.  It doesn’t make you wise, it makes you dumb.”  She is exactly right.  Drinking alcohol does nothing to make you smart or wise, but it does help you to do dumb things.

I don’t know how many times I have heard that people messed up their life because they were drinking.  They had gotten pregnant, beat up, in a car wreck, or put in jail because of the influence of alcohol.  The Bible says in Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”  Anyone that drinks alcohol is not wise, but dumb. 

    Some people say that it is alright to drink alcohol in moderation, but God says in Proverbs 23:31 that we are not even to look at wine when it is fermented.  Some people call it a gray issue, but it is very clear. 

    I wonder just how many homes, marriages, and young people have been hurt because someone thought just a little is alright.  It would be great if every teenager, and adult would be convinced that alcohol does not help anything at all, but it sure can hurt.

"Helping to keep homes and lives from becoming shipwrecked."

Wed. Bible Studies: What My Children Must Know (Week 5)

GET WISDOM

 

There is nothing I know of that Solomon taught his son more about than wisdom.  As the Bible says, it is the “principal thing.”  Look at how many times Solomon taught his son about wisdom.

 71 times wise.....

 54 times wisdom.....

 12 times prudent…..

137 total wise, wisdom, prudent

61 times fool (fools, foolish, etc.) - he teaches him what the opposite is and not to do that.

WISDOM, - The right use or exercise of knowledge  (knowing what to do, and having the power to do it.)

PRU'DENT -  practically wise  (a person that practices wisdom all the time)

It has been said like this many times:

A fool is someone that knows what God wants and doesn’t do it.

A simple man is someone that doesn’t know what God wants.

A wise man is someone that knows what  God wants and does it.

DAILY LESSION

DAY 1 – The first thing Solomon taught his son was to know wisdom, and it was the purpose of the proverbs.

Prov 1:1-2  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

   To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

Day 2 – Wisdom is the principal thing.

Prov 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The Bible says it is the principal thing, not the principle thing.  Wisdom is to be our pal and our companion.

Day 3 – Wisdom is better than rubies, gold and silver.

Prov 8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it

Day 4 – We should seek wisdom early.

Prov 8:17  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me..

Early in the morning, and early in life.  Our children should be asking God for wisdom before they really understand it. James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Day 5 – If you walk with wise men, you will be wise.

Prov 13:20  He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed

Day 6 – Discipline and teaching give wisdom..

Prov 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Prov 22:15  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Day 7 – A wise son will make mom and dad glad

Prov 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Do a study of Proverbs and write down everything a wise person does and do that, and write down everything a fool does, and don’t do that.  When the children get older, have them do that study as “home” homework.

Realize that you need and want your children to be wise and not fools. 

Make as a number one priority in your home for your children to be wise.

DECIDE TO WALK WITH GOD THIS YEAR

The most important thing one must do to be a good Christian is walk with God.  The most important thing one must do to be a good parent is walking with God.  The most important thing one must do to be anything good for God is to walk with God.  The Bible says that Noah and Enoch walked with God.  When we walk with God, we will be wise.  Proverbs 13:20a says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:”  We need wisdom to lead and help people the way we should.

However, if we are to walk with God, and we must agree with God.  Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”   If a person is to walk with God, they must agree with God.  It is amazing to see how many people talk about having a close relationship with God, and yet don’t agree with God in their life.  Have you ever looked at the things in your life to see if God would agree with them?  It is something everyone should do.

Walking with God is a great thing, but in order to walk with God, we must first agree with God.   

Wed. Bible Studies: What My Children Must Know (Week 4)

FINANCES

Solomon taught his son about finances more than just about anything.

16 rich….17 riches….8 substance...13 gold……12 silver…..

37 poor…...8 increase…

Here are seven days worth of devotions for you to teach your children on finances.  You will be glad you did.

Day 1 – Put God first with all you have.

Prov 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Prov 13:7  There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Day 2 – Wisdom is better than gold or silver

Prov 3:13-14  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

Prov 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver

Day 3 – Instruction, knowledge and a good name is better than gold.

Prov 8:10  Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Prov 8:19  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Prov 22:1-2  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

2          The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

Day 4 – You will be poor if you are a slacker, or lazy.

Prov 10:4  He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Day 5 – If you trust in your riches then you will fall.

Prov 11:28  He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Day 6 – Riches will not profit you in the end…only righteousness.

Prov 11:4  Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Day 7 – If we have mercy on the poor, then we will be happy.

Prov 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Prov 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

Prov 22:16  He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

OTHER FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES

Strong men keep and save their money

Prov 11:16  A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

God gives riches to people that are humble and that fear God.

Prov 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

If you set your eyes on worthless things, they riches will leave us.

Prov 23:5  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Money does not last forever.

Prov 27:24  For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation