Keeping It Young Dave Young, Bethlie Young

Proverbs 11
Teaching our children to have Integrity
 
What it is?
It is honesty v. 1 The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one refuses to change (Cambridge Online Dictionary) Think of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife Think of Daniel and his three friends in Daniel 1 And again in Daniel 3 when they wouldn’t bow to the false god And again in Daniel 6 when Daniel prayed even though it meant death This was an old command reiterated by Solomon Deuteronomy 25:12-14 Proverbs 16:11 and 20:10 It was a sin addressed by Hosea in 12:7 We must teach our children to always be honest For us, this was a spanking matter Matthew Henry says “He is not an honest man that is not devout; he is not a godly man that is not honest.” Dishonest business dealings are offensive to God Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing It models who God is He will do right every single time . . . It is humility v. 2 Notice that it is the opposite of pride Nebuchanezzar was severely judged by God for his pride Herod was as well. Notice that it is blessed by God Humility leads us to wisdom It is uprightness v. 3 The word means correct; right; straight Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. It  is righteousness. v. 4-6  
Why it matters?
 
It guides us v. 3 It makes a difference in death v. 4 A good conscience makes the end of ones life easier It leads us to righteousness It counsels us It makes us gracious It makes us generous It brings life v. 30 It bypasses judgment v. 32  
How do you get it?
You train it Proverbs 20:11 A child either has it or doesn’t Verse 5 When they get it and mature - it directs their way Perfect = complete or mature or whole You pursue it We often have opportunity to pursue integrity . . . You live it It shows up in how we treat people In how we run our business

Part 4
Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness and success- especially in our families
How do we get there?
We must emphasize God’s blessings v. 22 We should believe in God’s blessings v. 25 HE gives an everlasting foundation v. 27 He prolongs days v. 28. He gives gladness V. 29 His way gives strength 28:20 a faithful man shall abound with blessings Psalm 107:38 Genesis 12:2; 13:2; 24:35 We should desire God’s blessings Sometimes they are material/physical Deuteronomy 8:17-18 We work for these (and save and pray) We give thanks for these Sometimes they are spiritual Love joy and peace Contentment Favor Sometimes they are relational A good friend A good spouse He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the Lord Children Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward In-laws A good spouse for your children A family connection that results Adams, Mundays, Pisneys, and soon to be Gentiles Bethlie’s parents to me and my parents to her Questions:
How do we balance the idea of God’s blessings and the issue of “bad things” that happen? How do we teach this to our children? Is it ok to think of God’s blessings as material? How do we balance this with the idea that the best ones are not?

In part 3 of this series we see that Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness and success specifically in our families. 

Question: How do we get there?
We must emphasize diligence (Proverbs 10:4-5; 16) The word Sharp pointed Trench - in the sense of dug A massive amount of difficult work Time consuming Physically exhausting Gold - int he sense of mined Figuratively - determination, eagerness Gain requires forethought - diligently A harvest is an involved process Preparing the soil Preparing the seed Planting the seed Caring for the field Waiting for the full growth Gathering it for the days ahead Gain requires a process of time and in time We want our children to develop habvits that lead to success It is imperative that we ahve goals for our children Some are spiritual - this requries DILIGENCE Know God and His Word Love God and His Word Fear God Worship God Walk with God Give financially Some are relational - this requires DILIGENCE We want you to be sweet We want you to be kind We want you to be thankful We want you to be polite Some are practicle - this requires DILIGENCE We want you to learn discipline We want you learn skills We want you to learn to handle finances We repeat our desires and our demands - this requires DILIGENCE too. Repeitition is required. We model DILIGENCE Gain requres work (vs.16) 4:23 Keep your heart with all DILIGENCE 11:27 he that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious. 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of everyone that is hasty only to want. 

Happy Family Life: Christian Parenting Tips and Bible Insights!
Proverbs 10 continued...
Practically, what does it take to have a happy life and a happy family?
1) It takes righteousness v2-3; 6-7; 11; 16;19-21; 24-25; 28; 30-32
Righteousness in our treasures v.2 Righteousness in our dealing with people v. 11-12 Righteousness in our work v.  16 Righteousness in our words v. 19-22 How do you incorporate righteousness in your life? What is right? What does the Bible say? What would be the right response? What would be the right step to take? What would be the right way to handle this?  

We're really excited to dive into Proverbs 10!
 
The US Constitution says that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
life is a right liberty is a right happiness is not, it is the pursuit of it and that is a right It seems that Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness.
vs 1 Having a wise son brings gladness and avoids heaviness
Get ready for an exciting series!

Join Dave and Bethlie as they close this 3 part series on Teaching Your Children To Embrace Wisdom out of Proverbs 8 and 9.
Proverbs 8:32
What is the value of wisdom? 
(Find point 1-3 in Episode 212)
4. It brings blessings to our lives Proverbs 8:32-36
5.  Reminds us that God and wisdom are ETERNALLY connected (vs. 22-31)
You don't have one without the other Folly damages and destroys Wisdom builds and strengthens and lasts Proverbs 9
Wisdom is better than folly
Wisdom takes time
(vs. 1) She has builded her house Dads and moms must recognize this It takes a lot of time to train our children for success in life It takes a lot of time to prepare our children for success in life Wisdom takes investment
(vs. 4) Come live with me  Learn from me Watch me and follow my lead (vs. 5) Come eat at my table
Receive waht I offer you Let's talk and linger Wisdom takes decisions Forsake foolishness and live Go in the way of understanding (vs. 9) Wisdom takes learning (vs. 10) Wisdom takes God Wisdom takes decisions
Forsake foolishness and live Go in the way of understanding Wisdom takes learning (vs. 9) 
Wisdom takes God (vs. 10) 
Folly is a horrible way to live
Foolish woman is simple and knows nothing (vs. 13) Foolish woman is offering an alternative way to live Two choices on the shelf - pleaweing God or pleasing self Two choices in chapter 9 - the life of wisdom or the life of folly (vs. 14-16) Notice the offer (vs. 17) Notice the absurdity (vs. 18) Noitce the result This is life or death Galations 6:7-9 Deuteronomy 28-30 I set before you life or death, blessing or cursing etc.