Just Do What You're Told! - Proverbs 4

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Proverbs 4


In my house I say, "Don't touch that." They touch.  I say, "Be quiet." They keep yelling. I say, "Be careful with that." They make a mess. I say, "Settle down." They just keep rough-housing. I say, "Please do this." They do that. I say, "Please come here." They go there.
Yes, the frustrations that come with having children are numerous.  The fact that they tend to have selective hearing (sounds so much nicer than to admit your children actually ignore you) is just one of them. Solomon says in vs. 10-13,

"My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. 

When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. 

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life."

Ah, the promises of a long and good life. Do I promise my children such a thing? Or do they only see me threatening them with a disgruntled, unhappy life if they do not obey?  
There was a time in my life where the goal I had for my children was that they would be obedient.  I was very hard-pressed on them to behave as I wanted them to behave. I wanted them to do what they were told. Then an amazing thing happened.  I was convicted that all I was doing was teaching them how to behave and not teaching them why. At first, the reason I wanted them to behave was so that they looked good, so that I looked good.  Now, I realize I must teach them to obey so that GOD looks good.  

I must teach them to love and serve God not only with their behavior, but with their lives. I must teach my children wisdom's ways and lead them in straight paths.  So when they walk, they won't be held back; when they run, they won't stumble.  And yes, this does looks like obedience but for a different cause - not my cause but for the cause of Christ.

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I pray my children will take hold of my instructions and not let them go.  I must teach them to guard them so that they will have the key to life.  So they know my instructions are worthy of being followed and if they do so then they will have the promises of a good, long life - an ETERNAL LIFE!

Chapter 4 Survival Skills:
Discernment - vs. 6-9
Self Defense - vs. 14-19, 23-27
Offensive Maneuvers 
Training - all of chapter 4 is addressed to the next generation, 1-5, 10-13, 20-22