Tag: Proverbs

A popular saying, regarded as conveying wisdom. Scripture records a great number of didactic proverbs and also preserves some popular sayings.

Proverbs – Biblehub.com Proverbs topical index

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  • Godly christian teens?

    Godly christian teens?

    (Almost) Everyone’s Doing It

    A SURPRISING NEW STUDY SHOWS CHRISTIANS ARE HAVING PREMARITAL SEX AND ABORTIONS
    AS MUCH (OR MORE) THAN NON-CHRISTIANS.
    Eighty percent of young, unmarried Christians have had sex.
    Two-thirds have been sexually active in the last year. Even though, according to a recent Gallup poll, 76 percent of evangelicals believe sex outside of marriage is morally wrong. source
    .

    “What used to be happening in high school is now happening in eighth grade,” DiMarco said.

    Even Christian teens are not immune to the rampant sexual temptations bombarding their generation.

    “I found no difference between Christian girls and non-Christian girls,” DiMarco said. “No difference, except that they talked a good show and acted really nice in front of me.”

    When she probed deeper she found that Christian teens were engaging in the same sexual behaviors as their non-Christian friends. source

    The problem that she has found with abstinence pledges is that teens have misconceptions about what it means to be a virgin. “Teen girls don’t understand what virginity is,” DiMarco says, “so everything except intercourse is considered okay even by Christian girls.”

    “…parents do not fully understand how commonplace these sexual behaviors have become in their children’s generation.

    The teens have been desensitized by the sexual messages on television, in movies, in magazines, and from their friends. But parents would never imagine that these things are taking place.

    Quick facts regarding STDs and adolescent pregnancy

    • Approximately 18.9 million new cases of STDs occur each year.
    • Forty-eight percent of new STD cases in 2000 were among 15- to 24-year-olds.
    • There are currently more than 25 types of STDs; some are curable, others are not.
    • In 2000, approximately 822,000 pregnancies occurred among 15- to 19-year-olds.
    • Seven out of ten adolescent mothers drop out of high school.

    Quick ideas about setting boundaries

    Children and teens need boundaries for their safety. Children should understand the consequences of breaking family rules and boundaries. Consequences should fit the severity of the rule. The following are a few boundaries to discuss with your teen:

    • Curfew
    • Transporting other teens: who or how many people ride in one car together
    • Drinking alcohol or using drugs
    • Drinking alcohol or using drugs and driving
    • Lying to parents or adults in authority
    • Allowing opposite-sex company in bedrooms
    • Having friends over while parents are absent
    • Age at which dating can begin
    • Dating vs. courting: discuss family values and guidelines

    source

    CHRISTIAN PARENTS:
    Do you need HELP!?
    Many fine organizations provide help, books, materials, counseling, prayer and the love of Christ in getting parents through TRYING to raise godly Christian children. It is NOT an easy job, but the Lord calls on Christian parents to take responsibility for the children we raise – that INCLUDES our teens.
    .
    Start early. As you can see by the startling statistics, you had better think about SEX in your children’s lives BEFORE they do.
    • IF you didn’t start early, it’s still NOT too late.
    Don’t give up.
    Your son (yes, don’t forget them, even though they don’t get pregnant) or your daughter will bless you for your Biblical guidance in later life when they discover how much damage the sex life of theirs or their friends has caused.
    One of the fine organizations I can recommend for marriage or various family challenges is Family Life Today.
    Here is just one article on this topic:

    Establishing Dating Guidelines for Your Teen

    Full Article

    In light of our reformatted definition of dating, we have the following very general age guidelines for spending time with a friend of the opposite sex (these are for our children still living at home).

    • Doing things together with an approved mixed group of teens away from our home: We have allowed this to begin sometime after age 15.
    • Double dates or group dates: Usually at age 17, maybe earlier.
    • Single dates: These are generally discouraged but allowed in certain circumstances.

    More Beautiful You – Jonny Diaz

    [Song with lyrics]

    What is YOUR witness for Jesus Christ, beloved Christian young woman?
    +
    What is YOUR witness for Jesus Christ, beloved young man of the Lord’s witness?
    +
    What is YOUR witness for Jesus Christ as a PARENT of a TEEN in your ‘christian’ household?
    +

    Proverbs 30

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    11 There are those [There is a generation] who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers.
    12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes
    but are not washed of their filth.

     

  • Fatherly Advice

    Fatherly Advice

    Psalm 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

    Proverbs 10:1 A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

    Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    Deuteronomy 5:16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

    Therefore, fathers: how must we instruct our sons; mothers, how must we raise our daughters?

    Instruct them in scripture and raise them in Christ Jesus.

    Although the Proverbs etched in our memory of scripture speak specifically of fathers raising sons in obedience to scripture and to the Lord, the advice of Proverbs should flow also from a mother’s instruction and be heeded by our young women of faith.

    Proverbs 1

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    The Beginning of Knowledge

    1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

    2 To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
    3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
    4 to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
    5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
    6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

    7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

    Warn your christian child against becoming a fool without knowledge of scripture and the commands of Christ.

    The Enticement of Sinners

    8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
    9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.
    10 My son, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.

     Our christian sons and daughters (like us) live in a world opposed to Christ, daily temptations to be enticed by many a sin to the company of the seduction and darkness of welcoming ‘friends.’

     Proverbs 3:

    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
    6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
    7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

    At what age in your childhood did you become ‘wise in your own eyes?”

    Our younger children may earlier become friends of the world.  Children of rebellious parents would lead your child to their worldly wisdom at an earlier age in these last days.

    Proverbs 5:

    20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
    and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
    21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,
    and he ponders all his paths.
    22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
    and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
    23 He dies for lack of discipline,
    and because of his great folly he is led astray.

    Proverbs 10

    2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
    3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
    4 A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
    5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

    8 The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
    9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
    10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
    11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
    12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.

    Proverbs 12

    8 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
    19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
    20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
    21 No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
    22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.

     Proverbs 14 

    The wisest of women builds her house,
    but folly with her own hands tears it down.

    11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
    12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.

    Is yours a Christian home filled with the love, instruction and correction of scripture?

    Does your Holy Christian marriage stand as example before your children of Christ’s own love for us?

    Is your relationship to each of your children near to you as your relationship to Christ Jesus?

    Do your children witness your relationship with God in their relationship with you?

    LORD, Christ Jesus, we are your little children with so much to learn in humility in bowing down to your will for me, for my wife, for our children. Lord help us to be wise in your word and to walk faithfully in witness to your ways.

     

     

  • Nun

    Nun

    Nun

    PSALM 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

    It is the signature verse of Psalm 119, the central theme of importance to the Psalmist.

    God’s word. More than words – actions of man directed by God – a way of life.

    The Proverbs advise of God’s word:

    • 1:23b  I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
    • 4:4b Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
    • 4:20b attend to my words
    • 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

    How are God’s words a lamp (as translated from the KJV)?

    In the Tabernacle of God, Moses was commanded by the LORD:

    Contributions for the Sanctuary

    The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me…

    8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst…

    16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.  17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…

    22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel…

     

    31 “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold…

    37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.

    The seven lamps on the lampstand light the sacred Tabernacle of the Lord, the place where the High Priest meets with the LORD, the commands are given and oaths sworn on behalf of the people to obey the LORD.

    106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
    107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
    108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.

    The KJV demonstrates more reverence for the Lord’s sanctuary and presence by the words of v.108

    Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

    109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.

    110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
    111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.

    Returning to the KJV: Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

    And use of the same Hebrew word in Exodus 25:21-22

    And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony H5715 that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, H5715 of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

    112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

    This is what it means to love the Lord your God with your whole heart.