Parenting by the Book
STUDY 11
Text: Proverbs 3:7
9 September 2001
THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Dear Parents,
MANY ASPECTS TO “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
The fear of the Lord may be a single, simple phrase. However, it has many applications. We will consider yet another aspect of “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs 3:7 which reads,
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.Proverbs 3:7-8
“DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES…” PROVERBS 3:7
Everyone has experienced this problem. We all tend to be wise in our own eyes. This tendency to be wise in our own eyes is something that is found deep inside us. Many things tend to make us approve of ourselves as “wise”.
Our knowledge, our experiences in life, our intellect etc – these things tend to make us trust in ourselves, in greater proportions than is healthy.
One dangerous trend is to end up doing evil. People can do evil and justify their evil deeds. This is something we are told to abandon… if indeed we know the fear of the Lord.
Children learn very quickly the wrong things of life. Of course they need to learn how to be “street smart”. It is unwise to let them be naïve with reference to living in this world. Parents do need to teach their children how to survive in this tough and often wicked world of ours.
Sometimes, children pick up the wrong lessons. They tend to become wise in their own eyes. They can end up believing in themselves more than they should.
“FEAR THE LORD AND DEPART FROM EVIL…” PROVERBS 3:7
The challenge for all parents is to teach their children how to fear the Lord in so practical a manner that they know how to choose to depart from evil. The fear of the Lord is therefore taught in such a way that it becomes an intuitive part of life.
Children must be taught how they can recognize the face of evil intuitively. The fear of the Lord can help them immensely. If the fear of the Lord is well taught, then children could also recognize their need to include God in their lives.
“IT WILL BE HEALTH TO YOUR FLESH, AND STRENGTH TO YOUR BONES” PROVERBS 3:8
We have great encouragement to press on in our work of teaching our children to fear the Lord. They will be greatly blessed indeed with health and strength!
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie