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Parenting by the Book

Proverbs   Study
Study 52

STUDY 52

Text: Proverbs 5:1-23
23 June 2002

Dear Parents,

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THE FACTS OF LIFE
Many parent have difficulties when it comes to the matter of teaching about “the facts of life”. We must overcome our squeamishness somehow and teach our children about the harsh realities of life.

Teach children these facts of life early. There will come a time when they will not listen to the voice of parents anymore. Our work would end unceremoniously then.

TEACH THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF IMMORALITY
Children must learn about “morals” early in life. If they do not learn this lesson well, they would still learn it – the hard way. Great pains were taken to teach the sons about “the immoral woman”. In fact Proverbs 5 is all about guarding young men from the wiles of the immoral woman.

NAÏVE YOUNG MEN
Before people mature and become wise, they pass through the stage of being naïve, or worse gullible. Instruction to “children” is not limited to little ones.

1. Children of course need all the instruction they can get.

2. Teenagers or young men still need to be guided. (Proverbs 5 is more directly applicable to young men than children).

Young people can be so gullible they are fooled easily. It is important that we put in great effort at teaching our children about the facts of life… most diligently. Great candidness is sometimes most important. Consider some of the candid statements we have in this text.

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is smoother than oil;
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lay hold of hell.

Proverbs 5:3-5

BITTER LESSONS OF LIFE
Many have regretted how they used to hate instruction once upon a time. Only the bitter experiences of life have taught them lessons that they could have learned without as much pain and loss. Above everything else, we must teach our children that the Lord watches over all the affairs of men.

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He ponders all his paths.

Proverbs 5:21

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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