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STUDY 168

Text: Proverbs 17
12 September 2004

Dear Parents,

WHAT KIND OF A FAMILY LIFE DO WE WANT TO HAVE?
It is important that we stop and check the kind of family life we have. Let us ponder the following challenging text.

Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

Proverbs 17:1

1. A poor but happy family

“A dry morsel”

This phrase describes the food that a very poor family subsists on. It is so poor that there isn’t even gravy to wet the morsel (“bread” for instance) with.

“A dry morsel with quietness”

This family may be poor, but it has something special. There is “quietness.” This is a word that depicts harmony and peace in the family.

2. A rich but unhappy family

“A house full of feasting”

What a contrast we have in this text. The picture is that of a family that is well able to have one party after another. The phrase “full of feasting” describes a family that has significant means to hold many feasts.

“With strife”

There is one drawback that must be highlighted. The family has one major problem. There is “strife” among the family members. Perhaps the pursuit of wealth has caused the members of the family to lose perspective of what it means to be “family.” The price of “strife” in order to be able to afford holding parties is way too high!

WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE VALUE IN LIFE?
What are our values of life? What things are truly valuable to us? These things will invariably affect the kind of family we will have ultimately. It is vital that we dare to ask and answer the following questions honestly.

1. Do we value “family” at all?

2. Do we value “quietness” above “strife?

3. Do we value family life over and above the obtaining of wealth?

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie