Parenting by the Book
STUDY 254
Text: Proverbs 21
7 May 2006
Dear Parents,
TWO VIEWS
There are many ways of looking at life. Ultimately there are two ways to look at life. The following text offers a very challenging way of interpreting life.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.Proverbs 21:2
TWO OPPOSING VIEWS
The text above suggests that we can have two views that oppose each other:-
1. The Human View of Life
The human being can be very strongly opinionated. Here are some reasons why he is such:-
a) In his arrogance he seems himself as being “right”.
b) In his spiritual blindness, he cannot see and appreciate God’s viewpoint.
c) In his stubbornness he will insist that he is right.
2. The Divine View of Life
God being who He is, will of course view things differently.
a) With perfect insight, He will look at the heart of man.
b) With deep comprehension of man’s heart, He evaluates things perfectly.
c) Over time, history will prove that God is right and man wrong.
DRAWING A LESSON FROM THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF ISRAEL
One of the darkest periods of the history of Israel has to be in the time of the Judges. The nation was overrun by marauders time and again. How did Israel fall into such a pitiable state? Let us ponder the following text.
In those days, there was no king in Israel;
Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.Judges 17:6; 21:25
Israel could not have sunk lower! The problem was obvious. The nation had relied on their own wisdom. Each year brought the nation closer and closer to the brink of destruction. How important it is for us to teach our children to always consider God’s viewpoint, rather than become preoccupied with foolish secular thinking!
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie