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Parenting Principles from Proverbs Part 1

July 10, 2022 Speaker: Gibson Largent Series: Proverbs

Passage: Proverbs 1:7

Proverbs 1:7 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Proverbs 16:6 - “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.”

Listening Guide

You can do absolutely everything wrong in parenting and if you just get this one principle right you will have fulfilled your highest obligation as a steward of the children God gives you. Conversely, you can do everything else right, but neglect this one foundational and abiding principle and you will have failed in your highest obligation as a steward of the children God gives you.

We must see Jesus in Proverbs, especially as we seek to parent in view of Jesus.

  • “Remembering that Proverbs and the way we discipline are preeminently about Jesus Christ will transform the way we apply correction to our own children. And even in times of correction we’ll whisper his name to them through our tears and theirs. All of this is not to suggest that we ignore the plain teaching of Proverbs and instead simply look for Jesus. No, the plain words of the proverbs are for our good, and we will grow in wisdom if we respond to them in faith and humility. It is just that if we neglect to see Jesus there too, we will wrongly assume that we will be able to automatically accomplish something that not even Solomon could accomplish: produce wise children. In addition, because the proverbs are so clear-cut and seem like promises, we’ll believe that our performance will guarantee success. Many so-called Christian parenting books develop the parental wisdom in Proverbs without any recognition of the presence of the Christ. Because a devout Jew could employ Proverbs in the same way, this isn’t a Christian paradigm. Parenting methods that assume or ignore the gospel are not Christian. The gospel must hold the center in all we think, do, and say with our kids.”
    • Quote from the book: "Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus" by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Jessica Thompson
  • The fear of the Lord is the beginning…
    • The “fear of the Lord” = gospel
    • We must be gospel centered in our parenting
    • We must give our children a clearer picture of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and it’s implications

1) Live your faith out in front of your kids

  • 2 Timothy 1:5 - “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
  • Live your faith sincerely and purely and genuinely in front of your children
    • Let them see the ups and downs
    • Let them see your wrestlings with God
    • Let them see your perseverance in the faith
    • Let them see you worship, pray
    • Give them a window in to how you read, study, memorize, meditate, and apply the word of God

2) Pray - of course - but pray earnestly for God to save them.

  • Mark 10:17-27 - “[17] And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” [20] And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” [21] And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. [23] And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” [24] And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” [27] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

3) Saturate with scripture

4) Bad news before good news

  • They must know what sin is and who it is against. They must know that they have sinned. They must know that sin must be punished

5) Show them the glorious majesty and mercy of God demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus.

  • There are so many teachable moments and opportunities to point to the glory of God in the mystery of his great love for us demonstrated in Jesus.

More in Proverbs

August 21, 2022

How to Honor God with Wealth

August 14, 2022

Proverbs on Work and Laziness

August 7, 2022

Parenting Principles from Proverbs Part 3