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Parenting by the Book

Proverbs   Study
Study 51

STUDY 51

Text: Proverbs 4:20-23
16 June 2002

Dear Parents,

TEACH VITAL LESSONS ABOUT THE HUMAN HEART
There are all kinds of lessons we wish we could teach our children. Sometimes, we worry ourselves to death concerning the lessons we fear our children are not learning. As parents, we will have to face up to this important reality. We could never teach our children all that they need to know. They must learn their own lessons from life itself. They must go through all the ups and downs in life. This is the only way they are going to survive in the world.

However, we can play an important role. We can teach our children one of the greatest truths ever. This has to do with “the human heart”. Let us consider this text from the Scriptures.

Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

This is one seminal truth that we must ever seek to imprint on our children’s minds. They must recognize the important role the heart plays in their life.

JESUS ENDORSED THIS EMPHASIS
The Lord Jesus sought to teach His Disciples about the importance of guarding their hearts. Let us take time to read what He said.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
Brings forth good;
And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
Brings forth evil.
For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

The heart can become very evil. From an evil heart many sinful deeds proceed.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies.

Matthew 15:19

TEACH GOOD TRUTHS THAT WILL IMPACT THE HEART
Let us spare no efforts to teach our children how they may guard their hearts. We cannot guard their hearts for them. They must learn how to do this vital work themselves. Our part is to keep teaching them diligently deep wisdom drawn from God’s Word. Our part is to encourage them never to forget the wisdom we impart to them. Parenting is a very humbling work. May the Lord grant us His special grace to press on valiantly.

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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