Dave and Bethlie discuss words that destroy marriage from Proverbs 12.

Our words can do massive damage:

• When we speak in "never" and "always"
• When we are mean.
• When we make broad assumptions.

Beware of the "norms" in our society

1. Sarcasm
2. Belittling
3. Negativity
4. Unkindness
5. Rudeness

Determine to be different by:

1. Gratitude is healthy
2. Kindness is healthy
3. Sincerity is healthy
4. Gentleness is healthy
5. Respect is healthy

Proverbs 11

Teaching our children to have Integrity

What it is?

1. It is honesty v. 1
   1. The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one refuses to change (Cambridge Online Dictionary)
      1. Think of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife
      2. Think of Daniel and his three friends in Daniel 1
         1. And again in Daniel 3 when they wouldn’t bow to the false god
         2. And again in Daniel 6 when Daniel prayed even though it meant death
   2. This was an old command reiterated by Solomon
      1. Deuteronomy 25:12-14
      2. Proverbs 16:11 and 20:10
   3. It was a sin addressed by Hosea in 12:7
   4. We must teach our children to always be honest
   5. For us, this was a spanking matter
   6. Matthew Henry says “He is not an honest man that is not devout; he is not a godly man that is not honest.”
   7. Dishonest business dealings are offensive to God
   8. Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing
      1. It models who God is
      2. He will do right every single time . . .
2. It is humility v. 2
   1. Notice that it is the opposite of pride
      1. Nebuchanezzar was severely judged by God for his pride
      2. Herod was as well.
   2. Notice that it is blessed by God
      1. Humility leads us to wisdom
3. It is uprightness v. 3
   1. The word means correct; right; straight
   2. Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
4. It is righteousness. v. 4-6

Why it matters?

1. It guides us v. 3
2. It makes a difference in death v. 4
   1. A good conscience makes the end of ones life easier
3. It leads us to righteousness
4. It counsels us
5. It makes us gracious
6. It makes us generous
7. It brings life v. 30
8. It bypasses judgment v. 32

How do you get it?

1. You train it
   1. Proverbs 20:11
      1. A child either has it or doesn’t
   2. Verse 5
      1. When they get it and mature - it directs their way
      2. Perfect = complete or mature or whole
2. You pursue it
   1. We often have opportunity to pursue integrity . . .
3. You live it
   1. It shows up in how we treat people
   2. In how we run our business

Part 4

Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness and success- especially in our families

How do we get there?

1. We must emphasize God’s blessings v. 22
   1. We should believe in God’s blessings
      1. v. 25 HE gives an everlasting foundation
      2. v. 27 He prolongs days
      3. v. 28. He gives gladness
      4. V. 29 His way gives strength
      5. 28:20 a faithful man shall abound with blessings
      6. Psalm 107:38
      7. Genesis 12:2; 13:2; 24:35
   2. We should desire God’s blessings
      1. Sometimes they are material/physical
         1. Deuteronomy 8:17-18
         2. We work for these (and save and pray)
         3. We give thanks for these
      2. Sometimes they are spiritual
         1. Love joy and peace
         2. Contentment
         3. Favor
      3. Sometimes they are relational
         1. A good friend
         2. A good spouse
            1. He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the Lord
         3. Children
            1. Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward
         4. In-laws
            1. A good spouse for your children
            2. A family connection that results
               1. Adams, Mundays, Pisneys, and soon to be Gentiles
               2. Bethlie’s parents to me and my parents to her

Questions:

1. How do we balance the idea of God’s blessings and the issue of “bad things” that happen?
2. How do we teach this to our children?
3. Is it ok to think of God’s blessings as material? How do we balance this with the idea that the best ones are not?

In part 3 of this series we see that Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness and success specifically in our families.

Question: How do we get there?

1. We must emphasize diligence (Proverbs 10:4-5; 16)
   1. The word
      1. Sharp pointed
      2. Trench - in the sense of dug
         1. A massive amount of difficult work
         2. Time consuming
         3. Physically exhausting
      3. Gold - int he sense of mined
      4. Figuratively - determination, eagerness
   2. Gain requires forethought - diligently
      1. A harvest is an involved process
      2. Preparing the soil
      3. Preparing the seed
      4. Planting the seed
      5. Caring for the field
      6. Waiting for the full growth
      7. Gathering it for the days ahead
   3. Gain requires a process of time and in time
      1. We want our children to develop habvits that lead to success
         1. It is imperative that we ahve goals for our children
         2. Some are spiritual - this requries DILIGENCE
            1. Know God and His Word
            2. Love God and His Word
            3. Fear God
            4. Worship God
            5. Walk with God
            6. Give financially
         3. Some are relational - this requires DILIGENCE
            1. We want you to be sweet
            2. We want you to be kind
            3. We want you to be thankful
            4. We want you to be polite
         4. Some are practicle - this requires DILIGENCE
            1. We want you to learn discipline
            2. We want you learn skills
            3. We want you to learn to handle finances
      2. We repeat our desires and our demands - this requires DILIGENCE too. Repeitition is required.
      3. We model DILIGENCE
   4. Gain requres work (vs.16)
   5. 4:23 Keep your heart with all DILIGENCE
   6. 11:27 he that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
   7. 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute
   8. 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
   9. 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
   10. 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of everyone that is hasty only to want.

Happy Family Life: Christian Parenting Tips and Bible Insights!

Proverbs 10 continued...

Practically, what does it take to have a happy life and a happy family?

1) It takes righteousness v2-3; 6-7; 11; 16;19-21; 24-25; 28; 30-32

1. 1. Righteousness in our treasures v.2
   2. Righteousness in our dealing with people v. 11-12
   3. Righteousness in our work v. 16
   4. Righteousness in our words v. 19-22
   5. How do you incorporate righteousness in your life?
      1. What is right?
      2. What does the Bible say?
      3. What would be the right response?
      4. What would be the right step to take?
      5. What would be the right way to handle this?

We're really excited to dive into Proverbs 10!

The US Constitution says that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

• life is a right
• liberty is a right
• happiness is not, it is the pursuit of it and that is a right

It seems that Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness.

vs 1 Having a wise son brings gladness and avoids heaviness

Get ready for an exciting series!

Join Dave and Bethlie as they close this 3 part series on Teaching Your Children To Embrace Wisdom out of Proverbs 8 and 9.

Proverbs 8:32

What is the value of wisdom?

(Find point 1-3 in Episode 212)

4. It brings blessings to our lives Proverbs 8:32-36

5. Reminds us that God and wisdom are ETERNALLY connected (vs. 22-31)

1. You don't have one without the other
2. Folly damages and destroys
3. Wisdom builds and strengthens and lasts

Proverbs 9

Wisdom is better than folly

Wisdom takes time

1. 1. (vs. 1) She has builded her house
   2. Dads and moms must recognize this
      • It takes a lot of time to train our children for success in life
      • It takes a lot of time to prepare our children for success in life

Wisdom takes investment

1. 1. (vs. 4) Come live with me
      1. Learn from me
      2. Watch me and follow my lead
   2. (vs. 5) Come eat at my table
      
      1. Receive waht I offer you
      2. Let's talk and linger
   3. Wisdom takes decisions
      1. Forsake foolishness and live
      2. Go in the way of understanding
   4. (vs. 9) Wisdom takes learning
   5. (vs. 10) Wisdom takes God

Wisdom takes decisions

1. Forsake foolishness and live
2. Go in the way of understanding

Wisdom takes learning (vs. 9)

Wisdom takes God (vs. 10)

Folly is a horrible way to live

1. Foolish woman is simple and knows nothing (vs. 13)
2. Foolish woman is offering an alternative way to live
   1. Two choices on the shelf - pleaweing God or pleasing self
   2. Two choices in chapter 9 - the life of wisdom or the life of folly
   3. (vs. 14-16) Notice the offer
   4. (vs. 17) Notice the absurdity
   5. (vs. 18) Noitce the result
      1. This is life or death
      2. Galations 6:7-9
      3. Deuteronomy 28-30 I set before you life or death, blessing or cursing etc.

Dave and Bethlie continue in Proverbs 8 as we learn to help our children embrace wisdom.

Proverbs 8:7-11

1. Do a wisdom check
2. Think about and choose things that are excellent
3. Think about and choose things that are right
4. Think about and choose things that are true

What is the value of wisdom?

1. It teaches us to hate evil (vs. 12-13)
   1. It is not enough to know what evil is
   2. We must learn to hate it...
2. It teaches us how to lead (vs. 14-16)
3. It teaches us how to be wealthy (vs. 18-21)
   1. Wealth is tricky in our society
      1. Examples: Musk, Bezons, Gates, Trump
      2. Social media influencers
      3. People want to make money doing nothing or just having fun
   2. Wealth is more than money
      1. It is family
      2. It is satisfaction
      3. Is is relationships
      4. It is favor