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STUDY 17

Text: Proverbs 15:16
21 October 2001

THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”

Dear Parents,

ARE WE GIVING TOO MUCH TO OUR CHILDREN?
Have we taught our children how to do without? Have we taught them how to feel contentment with little? We should!

One of the problems that we appear to have in affluent societies, and Singapore is not excluded, is that we tend to give to our children things in super-abundance. This includes more than ample food, toys, money etc. When children have learned to have lots of things, they do not know how to be content in life.

What happens when our children do not have what they want? What happens when our children feel that they are “deprived”?

The sad fact is that many children will resort to shop-lifting! They think that they can get away with petty theft. They do not steal anything large. They do not even need the things they shoplift. Nevertheless, they will shoplift. Sometimes, they get caught, and of course they get into trouble with the law!

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE CONTENT WITH LITTLE
We have a very challenging truth to consider today. Let’s take a look at this piece of advice from the Lord’s Word.

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.

Proverbs 15:16

“A little… is better”? Try suggesting this thought to our children? See how they respond? Will they readily agree? Chances are that they will disagree. They would much prefer to have everything in abundance… “great treasures” no less!

If children keep thinking of wanting to have things in abundance, they would never find contentment in having just a few possessions. Children tend to envy the good fortunes of their friends. They compare lots of things… jobs of parents, the kind of house they live in, the holidays they have, the kind of shows they see, the kind of clothes they buy etc. Where is the end in sight?

When children cannot get what they want, they could get into a lot of mischief. They could even get into serious trouble with the law and have their future badly mauled!

TEACH THE FEAR OF THE LORD
When children learn about God, they must also be taught how to fear Him. In time, they would learn how to honour and respect the Lord with reference to physical possessions.

The fear of the Lord keeps them from getting into trouble. The fear of the Lord teaches them how to value the little they have in life. They are not envious of others. They have learned how to be content with having a little. How blessed these children will be! Let us teach our children correct Biblical values with the fear of the Lord.

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie