What Parents should teach their Children
At least part of Proverbs was written by Solomon to his son (1:8, 1:10, 2:1, 3:1; etc.; this applies to 1:1-9:18 for sure and probably 10:1-22:16). Thus, Proverbs is what parents should teach their children and what all of us should learn if we missed learning it as children. Here is a list of the things that parents should teach their children, gleaned from Proverbs 1:1-9:18, which is written in paragraphs, not one-liners like Proverbs 10:1ff. 1. Learn from the wise (1:1-6). Don’t just learn from your experience; learn from the experience of others. This is how to make wise decisions.
2. Fear the Lord (1:7). It is the beginning of knowledge.
3. Obey your parents (1:8).
4. Choose your companions carefully (1:10-19).
5. Be wise (1:20-3:26, 4:1-27, 5:1-23, 8:1-36, 9:1-18). Rejecting wisdom
results in calamity, terror, and destruction; following wisdom results in
experiencing peace and safety (1:20-33). If you seek wisdom, you will
know God, understand righteousness, and be delivered from evil
(2:1-22). If you live wisely—which includes walking with the Lord,
learning obedience, and practicing mercy and truth—you will have a
healthy and longer life (3:1-12). Wisdom is more valuable than anything
else (3:13-18). You must live wisely to be like the Lord and to reap the
benefits of wisdom, namely, life, grace, safety, and serenity (3:19-26). If
you get wisdom, you will reap the benefit of a long, favored life and
eternal reward (4:1-19). Guard your heart to make sure that you follow
wisdom (4:20-27). Since getting involved in immorality brings devastating
consequences, rejoice in your wife and remember the Lord sees
everything you do (5:1-23). The eternal wisdom of God calls from
everywhere to everyone saying those who know the Lord, obey Him,
and hate evil are blessed with life and those who don’t will die (8:1-36).
The simple (naive) are called to wisdom and foolishness; those who are
wise respond to wisdom and get wiser, but the wicked follow foolishness
to their own destruction (9:1-18).
6. Love your neighbor (3:27-35). The way to love your neighbor is to do
good, not harm.
7. Be careful about lending money (6:1-5). Do not co-sign for a loan or lend
money without security, or it will put you or your family in danger
financially.
8. Don’t be lazy (6:6-8). The lazy experience poverty, servitude, hunger,
and death. Work!
9. Do not be a troublemaker (6:9-19). Troublemakers end up in trouble.
10. Consider the consequences (6:20-35). If you do not listen to wisdom or
if you participate in immorality, you will suffer many damaging
consequences.
11. Stay away from immoral women (7:1-27). Guard your heart and
consider consequences.
Parents should teach their children to seek wisdom, to trust the Lord, to obey, to choose the right companions, to love others, to handle money wisely, to work, to stay out of trouble, especially immorality, and to always consider the consequences. Kids, don’t be stupid; get smart!
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/16/2011
2. Fear the Lord (1:7). It is the beginning of knowledge.
3. Obey your parents (1:8).
4. Choose your companions carefully (1:10-19).
5. Be wise (1:20-3:26, 4:1-27, 5:1-23, 8:1-36, 9:1-18). Rejecting wisdom
results in calamity, terror, and destruction; following wisdom results in
experiencing peace and safety (1:20-33). If you seek wisdom, you will
know God, understand righteousness, and be delivered from evil
(2:1-22). If you live wisely—which includes walking with the Lord,
learning obedience, and practicing mercy and truth—you will have a
healthy and longer life (3:1-12). Wisdom is more valuable than anything
else (3:13-18). You must live wisely to be like the Lord and to reap the
benefits of wisdom, namely, life, grace, safety, and serenity (3:19-26). If
you get wisdom, you will reap the benefit of a long, favored life and
eternal reward (4:1-19). Guard your heart to make sure that you follow
wisdom (4:20-27). Since getting involved in immorality brings devastating
consequences, rejoice in your wife and remember the Lord sees
everything you do (5:1-23). The eternal wisdom of God calls from
everywhere to everyone saying those who know the Lord, obey Him,
and hate evil are blessed with life and those who don’t will die (8:1-36).
The simple (naive) are called to wisdom and foolishness; those who are
wise respond to wisdom and get wiser, but the wicked follow foolishness
to their own destruction (9:1-18).
6. Love your neighbor (3:27-35). The way to love your neighbor is to do
good, not harm.
7. Be careful about lending money (6:1-5). Do not co-sign for a loan or lend
money without security, or it will put you or your family in danger
financially.
8. Don’t be lazy (6:6-8). The lazy experience poverty, servitude, hunger,
and death. Work!
9. Do not be a troublemaker (6:9-19). Troublemakers end up in trouble.
10. Consider the consequences (6:20-35). If you do not listen to wisdom or
if you participate in immorality, you will suffer many damaging
consequences.
11. Stay away from immoral women (7:1-27). Guard your heart and
consider consequences.
Parents should teach their children to seek wisdom, to trust the Lord, to obey, to choose the right companions, to love others, to handle money wisely, to work, to stay out of trouble, especially immorality, and to always consider the consequences. Kids, don’t be stupid; get smart!
© G. Michael Cocoris, 1/16/2011
