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Parenting by the Book

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Study 20

STUDY 20

Text: Proverbs 19:23
11 November 2001

THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”

Dear Parents,

THE NATURAL DESIRE TO WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE THE BEST OF LIFE
It is the most natural thing to desire that our children should grow up having the best things in life. We want them to have what we never had. We want them to have far more success than we ever enjoyed.

The problem however lies with the fact that sometimes we do not know how to define what the best things of life really are. Is it academic success? Is it social success? Is it monetary success? Is it spiritual success? Let us consider yet another aspect of the “fear of the Lord” and how it is applied to life.

The fear of the Lord leads to life.
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 19:23

SATISFACTION IN LIFE
One of the hardest things to have in life is “satisfaction”. Mankind seems to be always dissatisfied with his lot in life. He seems to always be struggling to achieve and attain to more and more goals in life.

Goals are not wrong at all. But what if we are motivated by wrong desires? What if we are always busy and pre-occupied because we are not satisfied with our life?

If we understand the fear of the Lord properly, then we will also see that the special blessing that comes with it is “satisfaction”.

“HE WILL NOT BE VISITED BY EVIL” PROVERBS 19:23
The person who has learned to be contented with his lot in life, will not be easily tempted by evil desires. It is important that we teach our children that often evil will come and tempt the person who is dissatisfied at heart.

Children are capable of great dissatisfaction. They are always desirous of wanting more toys, more money, more fun etc. If our children are not taught correctly how to be truly happy and thankful for what they do have, they will end up with a disgruntled spirit.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD LEADS TO THE BLESSING OF SATISFACTION
The very best thing to have in life is the blessing of contentment or satisfaction. So few have found this sense of contentment. Perhaps it is also because we have not learned how to fear the Lord as we should.

As parents, we must learn what it means to fear the Lord, and then find satisfaction in life. Our children learn best when they see truths exemplified in the lives of their parents. Let us determine to cultivate our “fear of the Lord”.

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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