Wednesday, November 27, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 13:22-25


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wise Attitudes: Godly Parenting: Proverbs 13:22-25
22) A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.
23) Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is [that is] destroyed for want of judgment.
24) He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25) The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

EXPOSITION:
Our Proverbs devotional series now addresses the wise desire to parent children in a Godly way…

22) A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.
The first principle of Godly parenting is laying up valuable possessions to be handed down to the child:
1.  A parent who is pleasing to the Lord will leave wealth to his children to be used the parent’s death.  This includes both worldly possessions and, more importantly, the spiritual “valuables” found through God’s Word and a Godly example.
In today’s world, an inheritance is thought of as only being physical in nature.  However, in God’s Word, the importance of the physical inheritance pales in comparison to the great value of a spiritual inheritance.  Above all else, a Godly parent will seek to leave to his child a spiritual inheritance that includes:
a.  Knowledge of the need of salvation.
b.  The doctrinal truths of the Word.
c.  An understanding of the “real-world” usage of the Word.
d.  A Godly example of a wise lifestyle.

2.  Those parents who reject the Lord’s desires for their lives will find that their worldly labors and efforts will hold no personal benefits for themselves but will in actuality only benefit God’s people.  The labors of the wicked, being under the sovereign control of God, are allowed for His people’s good and His glory. 

“For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.   (Ecclesiastes 2:26)


23) Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor: but there is [that is] destroyed for want of judgment.
1.  The physically poor and spiritually humble parent, recognizing the great value of possessions and their origin from the Lord will use their possessions wisely.  They will seek to accumulate them for the Godly purpose of helping their children and others in need.  The Lord then blesses the motivations and efforts of their labors, in an overflowing fashion.  By giving them an abundance of fruits for their labors, the poor have their needs met and leftover to be able to help their children and others in need.
2.  For those who accumulate possessions with selfish motives and ungodly practices show themselves to be lacking sound judgment  and face the perishing of their possessions and themselves throughout eternity.

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.  A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.  Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.   (Psalms 112:4-6)


How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he [it]; the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.  The wise [men] are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom [is] in them?   (Jeremiah 8:8-9)


24) He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
1.  The parent that puts his own pleasure and ease ahead of their children will withhold punishment from their disobedient child.  This will be a sign that the parent is counting their child as a burden and an enemy, as they refuse to deal with their obedience in a manner pleasing to the Lord and for the long-term benefit of the child.
2.  The parent that is willing to sacrifice for the child and do what is for the child’s good will discipline the child when they are disobedient.  This displays they love their child and their willingness to inconvenience themselves for the sake of the child.  
Remember, the proper disciplining of a child, when done in response to willful, rebellious, disobedience will teach the child the need to submit to higher authorities in their life.  One course, this principle will be instrumental in their salvation, if we remember that the Highest Authority is our Lord who commands all men everywhere to repent.  

Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.   (Proverbs 23:13-14)

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame.  When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.  Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.   (Proverbs 29:15-17)

Please note in the above verses when capital punishment is used in a Scriptural way, it can be very beneficial in the raising of children.  At the hand of a loving parent, who only desires the good of their child, they will take special care in this type of discipline will not becoming abuse.    

WHEN A PERSON SAYS THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN ALL SITUATIONS, THEY ARE DENYING THE CLEAR TEACHINGS OF SCRIPTURE. 


25) The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
1.  The parent who is righteous, one who is seeking out and applying the truths of the Word to their life, will be blessed of the Lord and find both physical contentment and possess a spiritually satisfying life.  They can look back on their life knowing they were faithful to the Lord, they equipped their children for a Godly life through their teachings and examples, and helped others in need.
2.  For those parents who were wicked, they can only look back at a spiritually destitute life, many missed opportunities of service to God, failures in meeting the spiritual needs of their children, and living selfish lives.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.  (Isaiah 65:13-14)


SUMMARY:
Godly parenting, although difficult and demanding of time, requiring much patience and effort, will lead to contentment and satisfaction knowing that life was lived to enable children to be greater servants of the Lord.  May times, through Godly parenting, a child is able to accomplish much more for Christ than what the parent could accomplish.  What a blessing it is to see a child faithfully serving the Lord in even greater ways that that of the parent.  It is an acknowledgement of the Lord’s promises of blessings, the parent’s patient, faithful, upbringing of the child, and the gracious hand of the Lord…

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:  That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.   (Psalms 78:2-8)


By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.




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