September 17, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 17
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6. Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26. Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Today's Pathway:
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"He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy." - Proverbs 17:21

In today's passage Solomon gives another reason for taking the time to raise your children correctly. He says that if a man's offspring is a fool, he will bring him sorrow and rob him of all joy.

As we have seen numerous times before, a fool is any individual who leads a life contrary to the principles and practices of the Word of God. The fool does not simply make the occasional mistake, but rather he has developed a self-centered lifestyle and thinking pattern that leaves no room in it for the Lord. While every man is ultimately responsible for his own relationship with God, we have seen previously that God expects parents to influence their children towards wisdom. If the parent fails in that responsibility through a hypocritical lifestyle, or a lack of spiritual emphasis, or a failure to teach and discipline, the end result will be a foolish child.

Not only will the child suffer because of his poor decisions, but the parents will as well. According to this verse the child will bring his parents to sorrow. He will be a grief and a burden to them because they will constantly be fearing what foolish decision he will make next. They will worry about what will happen to him if he does not straighten up. They will weep over him night after night. And note that this sorrow will not simply have a place in their lives, for Solomon adds that the father of the fool has no joy. His burden for his son will be continual, and nothing will soothe or relieve it. He may have enjoyed bringing up a son without following Biblical precepts, but he will never enjoy anything else once his son's lack of character has been revealed.

It may be difficult to raise your children correctly, but not nearly as difficult as watching them ruin their lives.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery