08: Words of Wisdom – Thought Starters
[Thought questions for Words of Wisdom February 17, 2015]
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
1. Products of our environment. Have you ever known a devoted, Christian family who adopted a child from a disruptive family? Did they believe they could overcome the errors of the youngster’s birth parents by firmly planting their feet in a Christian environment? Why doesn’t it always work out that way? What about you? Did you receive most of your personality traits and talents from your inherited traits or from what you have studied and learned? Does it matter?
2. We are all equal. Read that again! Are we all equal? How many ways can you think of that illustrating the equality of God’s children? Do you believe wholeheartedly in the concept that we are created by God and did not emerge from bits of matter that floated for billions of years? What comfort does the belief in a Creator God bring you? How do the Proverbs support this concept? How does the cross help explain the equality of man?
3. The test of life. In Proverbs 20:6 we find an overstatement of the human condition. Considering how far we have fallen since we first gave in to sin, why are we so self-centered? Does the person who believes in evolution as the cause of human life have more reason to be optimistic about his or her current condition? Why or why not? Why is the Christian who lives a long life of greater value to God’s plan than the martyr whose life ends at a young age? Should this thought modify the care we take of our bodies? Should we strive to live as long and healthy a life as is possible under the circumstances?
4. Waiting for the Lord. The thief gets his reward first, reaching for what he wants rather than making it or earning money to buy it. The verses cited toss out sinful ways of being enriched. Which of these is the most familiar to you in observing how people deal with others—deceit? haste? disrespect for parents? revenge? taking things into their own hands? If you get a raw deal, what advice might the speaker of proverbs have for you?
5. Compassion for the poor. Have you ever been poor? Down to the last few dollars and more bills piling up? Do you ever look the other way when the poverty of another family or individual becomes apparent? How easy is it to be glad you’re “luckier” than the poor in your midst? In Proverbs 22:2 is the poor person less valuable than the wealthy one? Regardless of our assets or our bank account, what do all of us have in common with the very rich? and the very poor? Why should this comfort us?
6. Child behavior and schooling. The proverbs don’t present an outline of study or a list of tips about childhood education, but what do they offer instead? How can we know the right way to “train up a child in the way he should go”? Is there a foolproof method of raising children for God? Won’t using the “rod of correction” get parents in trouble with the law these days? What are some ways that parents can discipline their children without causing them physical harm? Can we show our love even as we correct our children? How?
7. The final results. Are parents who raise cheerful, productive children eager to involve themselves in doing good work better than those who have child-raising problems? Do you know of children whose parents served difficult years overseas while they were youngsters but are now putting as much space as possible between themselves and religion and home? How careful should we be about blaming the parents when such disasters happen? Does God still love these children? Should we?
(7)
One of the biggest regrets of my life was my lack of knowledge and understanding of the role of a parent. I had the most wonderful mother who successfully raised all three of us on her own. She brought us up with love and values that have sustained us throughout our lives.
However the one thing I did not learn or understand was how she did it.
My temperament is classified by Kiersey as Guardian/Inspector, which means I have a high regard for rules and checking to make sure that people comply with the rules. So to me Parenting = Discipline.
I have discovered that I am not the only one!
Only now in my later years have I discovered that the principle role of a parent is not short term obedience but long term development of character.
It is so much easier to tell a child, do it because I said so or even do it or you will be punished. It takes more time, thought and care to use the situation as a learning opportunity to train and build the child's values. Luckily now days there are many resources available to assist with biblical parenting.
The most scary thing is the effect the type of parenting has on the next generation's idea of their relationship with the LORD. I believe this is an important aspect of the reason why we see young people "raised in the church" leaving the church when they leave home.
I deem it a privilege studying the Sabbath school lessons with you on this network. I am so pleased with comments coming from many of you; esp. Hugh, Tyler and not the least Hurford. It is so interesting sharing inspiring testimonies. We are all in the right direction and with the Lord on our side, we shall be winners. Anita's experience should not deter her at all but rather it should spur her on to better things in her church. She should be an example for others to . God bless us all
Shirley,
Thank you for sharing a wonderful arrival in your development and learning.
Hope you don't mind me inserting a shift in emphasis.
When we learn the blessings of love, as your Mom so wonderfully expressed (and you learned from her about parenting), and part of that love is the meaning of high values, as Mom so wonderfully guided (and you learned from her about parenting), we in our current nature struggle with the tension between the two: love and justice, love and obedience. We cannot avoid this tension. As young parents, we loved and learned what our parents did, but have not yet learned how they resolved the tension.
Truly loving our children, but having not resolved how love is the Law (in God's book), in order to stand by our values/standards, we shift to control as our method, for we ourselves feel out of control. Our overemphasis on the law, obedience, justice over-weighs our love and leaves us in greater tension, unfulfilled, losing the battle (of control). Unless we realize and talk to our Father about it, we will have to go through the learning process.
The miracle of our Father's love, which worked in Mom, integrates values and obedience with His love. The shorter method is to go to our Father and ask Him for it, even before we get married, so we can begin to experience "God is LOVE", "Love is the fulfilling of the Law", Mother was a wonderful loving woman with high values. We become by His grace, the integration of love and justice.
We wish sometimes that we can learn faster. We can. Thanks for sharing.
Hurford, Thank you for expanding what I was thinking, you said it beautifully.