Family Studies
Principles to be Taught Youth – Part 6
Series: Training a Child (Lessons from Proverbs)Introduction:
1. This marks the 7th lesson in this series from Proverbs “Principles to be Taught Youth.” 2. We have been studying through Proverbs identifying principles that we can include in a curriculum to instruct our young people. 3. We have considered many fundamentals and found that they are not just good for youth, but everyone no matter what age. Indeed, those that are older need to be refreshed that they might hold firmly even in their old age to the fundamental principles of God. 4. I have decided to do one more lesson in this series after this one. In the next lesson I want to talk with you about the spiritual battle that we are in for the hearts of our young people. I hope that you will look forward to that study. 5. Tonight, I want to survey with you several remaining principles that we have not yet addressed. 6. We will have to move quickly without spending a whole lot of time on anyone of them.Discussion:
I. Be truthful and honest.A. Prov. 12:22: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.”
B. Prov. 16:13: “Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and he who speaks right is loved.”
C. Prov. 24:26: “He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.”
D. People learn to trust you and to have confidence in you when you tell the truth.
1. This does not give you permission to hurt people with truth.
2. It does not give you permission to be rude and unfeeling, to vent your ill will in ways that taste like vinegar rather than grace (Eph. 4:29).
3. It does call on you to be respectful to others as Christ has been respectful to us (Eph. 4:20-25).
II. Be cautious and prudent.A. Prov. 14:16; “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.”
B. Prov. 27:12: “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.”
C. Do not rush headlong into things. Consider the implications. Think, meditate, counsel with the Lord and with others before you proceed.
III. Practice gentleness.A. Prov. 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
B. Prov. 15:4: “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.”
IV. Be content.A. Prov. 15:16-17: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred.”
B. Prov. 16:8: “Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.”
C. Prov. 17:1: “Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.”
D. Prov. 30:8b-9: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.”
V. Humble yourself.A. Prov. 16:18-19: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
B. Prov. 18:12: “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”
C. Prov. 22:4: “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.”
VI. Be gracious.A. Prov. 16:24: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
B. Eph. 4:29.
VII. Practice purity.A. Prov. 20:9: “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?’”
B. Prov. 22:11: “He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.”
VIII. Be patient.A. Prov. 25:15: “By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.”
B. Everything does not happen immediately. Life is longer than you think. Be patient. Be persistent in the pursuit of good things. “IN HIS TIME.”
Conclusion:
1. It would be good if in your family devotions you used the book of Proverbs as part of your curriculum. 2. You could consider one or two proverbs at a time selecting those that are particularly relevant to discuss and meditate upon. 3. I think it would go well for you and for your family.
