It is no accident that the first human temptation concerned food (Gen. 3:3). It was by being disobedient and eating of the wrong thing that brought sin and death into the world (Gen. 3:1–7, Rom. 5:12). We shouldn’t miss the hard fact, too, that the first mention of wine drinking in the Bible is presented … Continue reading –>
What do Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1-2; and Proverbs 24:19-20 warn us about? Why would someone envy the wicked? Most likely it’s not because of the actual sins that they might be committing. Rather, it’s usually because of the immediate gain (wealth, success, power) that they achieve through their wickedness — that’s what people often covet … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 22:22-23; Proverbs 23:10. What are we warned about here? Though it’s always wrong to steal, this prohibition concerns stealing from the poor and the oppressed, who are the most vulnerable. They are truly helpless, and therefore they qualify for God’s special concern (Exod. 22:21–27). The case of David, who killed Uriah in order … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 22:17-18. What are we being told about how truth should impact our lives? The first duty of the student is to listen and pay attention: Incline your ear and hear (Prov. 22:17, NKJV). In other words:Concentrate! The crucial point is that the seeker of truth must be earnest, must truly want to learn … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Proverbs 22:1–23:35, Exod. 22:21–27, Proverbs 24:1-34, Eph. 5:20, Ezek. 33:8. Memory Text: Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you? … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Parents should be models of truthfulness, for this is the daily lesson to be impressed upon the heart of the child. Undeviating principle should govern parents in all the affairs of life, especially in the education and training of their children. . . . Parents, never prevaricate; never tell an untruth in precept … Continue reading –>
Paul Brown and his family are a true blessing to me. A few years ago when they moved in, my step-grandfather asked Paul if I could mow his yard. Paul agreed, and soon a connection grew between me and his family, and I found out what nice people they are. His kids, Payton and Stormy, … Continue reading –>
The Hebrew word for education comes from a word that means to build up and to begin. All these meanings are contained in the Hebrew idea of education: when we train up a child (Prov. 22:6), we build up, we begin, and we lay the groundwork for the future. Parents and educators are therefore responsible … Continue reading –>
A person’s character is measured less by wisdom or even religious commitments than by readiness to help the poor and the needy. It is not what you have that measures your character. Who you are to your neighbor is the measure of character. The Samaritan who saves his neighbor is closer to the kingdom of … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 20:17, 21:5. What practical lesson can we find in these texts? The thief who steals bread gets it faster than the one who has to work for it. Salespeople who lie to sell their bad merchandise may become rich faster than the honest merchant (compare Proverbs 21:5 to Proverbs 21:6). Yet, says the … Continue reading –>
