April 22, 2013 Life Training

Read Proverbs 22 Life Training Prov 22:1-7 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 2 Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. 3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. 4 Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. 5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them. 6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. VERSE 6 may be one of the most often quoted verses of Proverbs and of scripture. People remember this as a “formula” for raising children to live well. And many people also question it with, “My children grew up going to Sunday school and church. Where are they now?” Perhaps you can find some answers to that question in verses 1-5. Essentially, the wisdom here is this: Live your life in the image of God. The essential key of training your child “in the way he should go” is showing your child the way he should go. Training a child doesn’t mean you get him to do things at your command. It means you teach him valuable heart lessons to the reasons why living in God’s image is the best way to live. The best way to teach is to speak and then live out what you say. Do you want your child to honor you? Then honor him. Do you want your child to read the Bible? Then you read it. Do you want your child to be honest? Then you be honest. Do you want your child to affirm others? Then you affirm him. It’s true. Before you can “train” a child, you must submit to God’s training on your heart. Be humble. Submit to God and model a right life for your children. It’s True! Training works best when you do it first.