Bible: 5 Poetic Books

Lesson 5: The Book of Proverbs: Teach Me, Grasshopper!

Wisdom concerning FRIENDS and FAMILY

You know what happens if you put ANY group of people together under the same roof for any length of time. Eventually, tempers flare and arguments break out. People are individuals--they make individual choices, and my particular choices may not be yours.

So with our closest friends and relatives, the potential for disaster to strike is always looming nearby. The Bible gives us good guidance for dealing with both friends and family. Let's look at some of it:

FRIENDS:

Proverbs 12 26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

[Choose your friends carefully! Don't hang out with the wrong crowd]

Proverbs 13 20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

[You are whoever you spend time with.]

Proverbs 17 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

[Friends are there for you, in good times and in bad, kind of like a marriage partner.]

Proverbs 18 1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.

[Being antisocial makes you a bit crazy.]

Proverbs 18 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

[It's better to have one close friend than 50 "acquaintances".]

Proverbs 19 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD , and he will reward him for what he has done.

[Often, we are called to be a friend to those who have none.]

FAMILY

Proverbs 6

20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

[Our parents are our first, and should be our best teachers. Though their instructions and guidance may not make perfect sense to us at the time they are given, parents have an eye to the future, because of their own past experience. The line, "this teaching is a light" is beautiful--the light bulb does indeed turn on sometimes. That's what keeps teachers teaching!]

Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

[Clearly, what you do reflects on your parents, and their rearing of you. Bad manners? Poor decisions? People may look at the parents and just shake their heads,"Tsk,tsk!" DESPITE the fact that God has given us EACH the ability to choose, to make decisions.]

Proverbs 17 6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

[Obviously, it works the other way too. Are you the kind of parent your children can be proud of?]

Proverbs 22 6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

[Establish life lessons early with children. Often, children model the patterns of their parents. You solve your problems by drinking? There's a good chance your kids may abuse alcohol. You solve your problems by hitting? There's a good chance your children may abuse physically. You solve your problems by listening to God? There's a good chance your kids will also learn to walk in faith.]

Proverbs 23 13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

[Tough love. Sometimes, we have to enforce consequences that help a child understand how actions are inappropriate. It is important to keep in mind that discipline and beating are NOT the same thing, however! Guidelines help children grow; no guidelines keeps children in an immature, naive state where they think the world owes them something.]

Proverbs 23 22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. 24 The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.

[GET wisdom. Listen to your elders. Be honest. Be disciplined. Be understanding to others. Live your life according to any of these credos and you can't go far wrong. Though the advice in Proverbs is simple and straightforward, it is priceless!]

ASSIGNMENT:

I'm going to get you to feel some pain, so prepare yourself for it. . .

Imagine that you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness (my utmost apologies if you have). You don't have long to live. What life advice could you record in a journal or on a videotape to give to your children and future grandchildren? Write it out now, and don't keep it to yourself. "Things I've learned about life" could be a valuable present that you can give to someone near and dear to you. Too much to say? Condense. Make it into a poem. Only the absolute best pieces will remain.

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