Wise or Foolish Children

Proverbs 10:1-2

1A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
But righteousness delivers from death.

THINK

 

When a baby is born, family and freinds see many things. The baby may look like his father or mother. A nose may resemble the father's. They eyes may be the same as the mother's. As the baby grows up, the baby develops a personality. Again family and friends look for similarities in the personaility of the father and the mother with that of the baby. The father and the mother teach that child many things. Perhaps the child is inquisitive like the father or sensitive like the mother. Perhaps the child likes to do what Dad does or what Mom does. Whatever traits the child displays, they are usually traced back to the parents. No matter what anyone says, they are comparing the child to the parent to forcast who the child may turn out to be. Many parents take this to heart and try to shape and mold the child to display the best combination of their traits. This doesn't always work because the child has other influences that contribute to the shaping and molding of the child.

Many will say that the child's environment plays a part in how the child develops. Still others will say the experiences that a child has shapes his character. No two individuals have exactly the same experiences. Thus we are all differnet to a certain degree.

As a child grows the parents compares what choices that child is making to those that he or she would make. Conflict occurs. Parents has a certain way of perceiving a situation that differs from the child. Arguments and loud discusssions can ensue. The child is trying to learn various growing up issues for himself rather than to depend upon his or her parents for guidance. The son or daughter distance themselves from the parents to prove that they are growing up. Sometimes they are successful, but many times they fail and have to start over again.

As that son or daughter grows up into puberty, a father is glad or happy when his chld makes wise decisions. It is the mother who grieves when the child makes foolish mistakes. The father is proud when his son or daughter is wise. The mother grieves because all the nurturing in the world has not helped the child to make wise decisions. Instead the child makes foolish decisions.
Foolishness and wickedness profits no one. Yet if a child choose to make righteous decisions, his spiritual soul will be delivered from death.

ACT

 

Before a child is born, pray for the well being of the child's soul and a pliable personality that is attuned to God.

After the child is born, make sure you are setting an example that would please God. How do you know what pleases God? Read the Bible. It tells you many ways to raise a child in the ways of God. Pray for those around the child that they will be Godly examples as well. Pray for the relatives, grandparents, and friends to be holy as God is holy. Pray for the child's mother and father to be living testamonies to the glory of God. Put the child into the hands of God. God will protect, guide and direct.

PRAY

Dear Father in Heaven, I pray for each child born, that they will bring gladness to their fathers and happiness to the mothers. Let each child develop a sense of God's leading and obediance to God. Help that child to become a believer of Jesus Christ and thus glorify God.

OTHER NOTES

"Build your life on obedience to God's word and God will make you wise."