Sunday, June 6, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 10:1-3, we learned about the value of living right before the Lord. Everyone wants a blessed life, and according to Scriptures, the blessings of the Lord reside in the house of the righteous. Apart from the finished work of Christ on Calvary, though, none of us are righteous. It is only through His finished work on Calvary that each of us can attain right standing with God. Being rightly related to the Lord begins by recognizing our lost condition before Him. After that, the process is completed when we place our hope and trust in Him. Then, as we mature and grow in Him, we learn through His indwelling Holy Spirit that it is important to live right. As Christians, right living means staying on the straight and narrow pathway that is taught in the Bible. When we do that, we spare ourselves much grief in this life, plus we open ourselves up for the outpouring of God's tremendous blessings. Solomon wrote that a wise son makes his father glad. He added that a foolish son brings sadness and heaviness of heart to his mother. Solomon identified himself as the author of these words in Proverbs 10, but more than that, these writings are the inspired words of God. God used Solomon in such a way that Solomon was able to express in his own words the thoughts and intents of God.
In Proverbs 10:1, the sexual references to son, father, and mother are probably more symbolic than actual. The Hebrew word for son can mean a member of a group, while the word for father means head of household or group and the word for mother means either mother or parent. Thus, Solomon was probably really saying that all wise children, in general, male or female, make glad parents and that all unwise children, again whether male or female, probably make sad parents. He most likely was not limiting his discussion to just the male gender. All parents want to be proud of their children, but sometimes, their children make it difficult. The perception among the worldly is that fun can be found in mischievous, carefree, wild living. However, Solomon wrote the opposite. He said that wild, carefree living does not profit anything. He then said that living right delivers from death. Thus, his lesson is very clear. It is never wrong to do right and to follow the Lord. Psalms 16:11 says, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is [fullness] of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalms 19:8 says, "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." Many try to find happiness in an ungodly lifestyle, but happiness is not found there. Proverbs 14:9 says, "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is [favor]."
In Proverbs 10:3, Solomon wrote that the Lord will not let those who live for Him famish. Psalms 106:3 says, "Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times." By contrast, he said that the wicked would lose everything in the end. In short, he wrote that living right, seeking godly wisdom, and trying to satisfy the Lord with your life bring blessings, peace, joy, and usually happiness. Therefore, as you go through the coming week, try to be the person that God wants you to be and try to live the life He wants you to live.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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