Proverbs - Parenting A Scorner

Proverbs 9:7-8

  He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:

 and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

                        A scorner is one who mocks wisdom and is wise in his or her own eyes.  When someone is operating out of pride we must be careful how we give instruction and reproof.  When our child is arrogantly stating his or her position as an adolescent we must be careful how much we say in instruction because their hearts are so hardened at that moment.  We must still give them the Lord’s standard but a reproof involves not only the standard but instruction in righteousness.  At the time we discern a scornful disposition in our child we should lift the standard, state the consequence and wait until his or her heart softens to instruct them in the way that they should go. 

                        If we try to instruct our children when their hearts are hardened we will get ourselves a blot.  Most likely we sill succumb to the temptation of anger and wrath because our words are not finding a place in their hearts.  Body language, verbal responses and tone of voice will signal to us at those times that they are in a scornful frame of mind.  We can pray at those times for their hearts to be softened.  We can pray that they will be wise and just and increase in learning.  We must be careful about trying to plant seed on hard ground.  Rather, scatter the seed of the word upon them and wait on the rain of His Spirit to soften their hearts and cause the Word to penetrate to the depths of their being,

                        Are you a wise woman?  Do you receive instruction or do you think you know how to do it?  Are you teachable?  If so you will be yet wiser and you will increase in learning.  Approach the Word of God, pastoral studies and insights other Christians give you with an eagerness to be taught and guess what?  You will learn.

Proverbs - God as Our Father

Proverbs 3:11-12

  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;

even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

                        We don’t always like discipline, just like our children, but the Lord loves us enough to straighten us out and like braces hurt and produce a great smile, His correction will produce wonderful results in the transformation of our personality.

                        Here we see that discipline is associated with correction.   When we discipline our children the process should include not just punishment for what is wrong but some sort of measure to bring about the right behavior.  They need to not only see where they have blown it but the standard to which they are being encouraged to take on.  They also need instruction on how to reach that standard that is age appropriate and doable.   Take some time to ask the Lord for His heart of discipline towards the children in your care.  If you do not have children, pray for some of the mothers that you know.

Proverbs - Parenting

Proverbs 1:7-9

                                                                   

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:

 but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck

                        .For us to even begin to know anything about ourselves, others or life in general we must have the fear of the Lord.  We must be more concerned about His approval than any other’s and His conclusions on a matter more than our own understanding or this world’s conclusions.

                        Parental authority is given by God and when it is not in violation with the Lord’s commands should be submitted to prior to marriage and regarded highly as wise counsel once one has left father and mother and joined with their mate.

                        Listening to those above us in rank, not worth, will ‘accessorize’ our character just as just the right jewelry ties an outfit together.  When you hear that little voice of your parents’ remind you to get to bed, put on a jacket or get those dishes done, enjoy the parental influence the Lord is still using to be an ornament upon your life.

             

Proverbs - Have a Farmer's Mindset

Proverbs 31:28

Her children arise up, and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Have a Farmer’s Mindset

                                    

This is a statement about this woman after her children have grown.  This reminds us that our children may buck against some things now but they will bless us later.  We must not despair for the reactions of our youth, but seek to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  They will thank us later.   Our husband will eventually notice the day to day things we do and he will praise us later.  Let us work unto the Lord and not look for the immediate fruit.  Let us trust that we are growing our family and the harvest will come.  Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season you will reap, if you do not give up.

Proverbs - Strength and Power

Proverbs 30:29-31

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Here is another list.  This is a list of things that are very stately in their presence.  We see a lion, a greyhound, a he goat and a king.  All of these know their place and have their power and strength under control.  They are to be respected because they know who they are and what they are able to do.  We need to know who we are in Christ and the authority we have in the fact that we know the truth and there is no need to attack or exercise our authority in a non self-controlled manner.  We can hold our ground in the face of a tantrum-driven child or an argumentative adolescent.  We can, like the lion, hold our ground and wait for the right time to step forth and establish our position.  We can, like the king, 

Proverbs - Children and Parents

Proverbs 30:11

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

There has never been another generation closer to the second coming of Jesus Christ than those who are living now.  The Lord tells us in Second Timothy 3:1-2 :

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

Children have always had to learn obedience.  We know that foolishness is bound up in a heart of a child and they must be instructed in the way that they SHOULD go because they naturally go towards their fallen nature without such instruction.  In the last days the severity of disobedience will be such that children will curse their fathers and not bless their mothers.  As parents in these times we ought not take the attitudes of our children personally but rather prepare ourselves to fight with spiritual weapons on behalf of this generation.  When we hear news reports of children who actually murder their parents, we should stop and ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit upon this generation.  So many fathers have forsaken their children and mothers have pursued their own goals at the expense of their children.   This results in children who react with such despair that it results in cursing and a lack of natural bonding.  Oh Lord, help us as mothers to not be deceived and contribute in any way to our children cursing their father or not blessing us.  Give us compassion on the children who are cursing their fathers and use us to show them what a good Father you are. 

Proverbs - Correction and Rest

Proverbs 29:17

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Sometimes we feel we need rest so we don’t correct our children.  They will give us rest as we choose to correct them.  It takes a lot of effort up front but in the long run it will give us the rest we need.  The little things we train them in now will protect them from the big mistakes they could make later.  It is like weeding a garden before the weeds take deep root.  Sure, it takes a consistent effort to go out daily and remove the little weeds but we won’t have such a strenuous job later.  The motivation of having rest and having our children give delight to our soul can be the right one in order to correct them.  Note that the word ‘correct’ is used and not ‘punishment’. We ought to remember that the rest and delight from correcting the behavior using the rod and reproof. 

Proverbs - The Rod and Reproof

Proverbs 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom:

but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

The rod is equated with some sort of painful consequence and reproof is that which corrects and instructs as to why something is wrong and what should be done instead.  When we have little ones we can just be so tired.  This could cause us to leave our children to themselves but we are told this will bring us shame.  When we are tired we might end up only using one of the two tools for wisdom and then we won’t get the desired result.  We may be grouchy and just use the rod or be full of words because we are frustrated.  The next time you discipline your children be aware of the rod and reproof.  Don’t leave one out! Consider the wisdom you desire to see given to your child.  You need some sort of consequence and then a time of verbal instruction.  Do you tend to do one more than the other?  A righteous balance comes from the Lord.   He will help you.

Proverbs - Do Not Rule According to Lies

Proverbs 29:12

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Raising children can be quite the challenge.  We must not hearken to lies from without or lies from within.  When a child gives us his take, we must be sensitive to searching out a matter.  If we make a decision upon lies we will propagate an attitude of deception to gain a desired outcome.  Also, if we are listening to the lies of the enemy we will produce the wrong kind of fruit in our homes.  We might hear the whispers of the liar but we don’t have to hearken to them.  We can look at them, refute them with truth and proceed to rule by God’s truth and the freedom the Holy Spirit brings.  Do not hearken unto lies. Rule your household by hearkening to Your Master’s voice – the voice of truth!