UBF Daily Bread

TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO

Passage: Proverbs 22:1~29

Key verse: 17

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.^(A)

²Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.^(B)

³The prudent see danger and take refuge,^(C)
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^(D)

⁴Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor^(E) and life.^(F)

⁵In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,^(G)
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

⁶Start^(H) children off on the way they should go,^(I)
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.^(J)

⁷The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.

⁸Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,^(K)
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.^(L)

⁹The generous will themselves be blessed,^(M)
for they share their food with the poor.^(N)

¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.^(O)

¹¹One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.^(P)

¹²The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!^(Q)
I’ll be killed in the public square!”

¹⁴The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;^(R)
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.^(S)

¹⁵Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.^(T)

¹⁶One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

¹⁷Pay attention^(U) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;^(V)
    apply your heart to what I teach,^(W)
¹⁸for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
¹⁹So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
²⁰Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
²¹teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,^(X)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

Saying 2

²²Do not exploit the poor^(Y) because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,^(Z)
²³for the Lord will take up their case^(AA)
and will exact life for life.^(AB)

Saying 3

²⁴Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
²⁵or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.^(AC)

Saying 4

²⁶Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge^(AD)
or puts up security for debts;
²⁷if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.^(AE)

Saying 5

²⁸Do not move an ancient boundary stone^(AF)
set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

²⁹Do you see someone skilled^(AG) in their work?
They will serve^(AH) before kings;^(AI)
they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Read full chapter

1. A good name--more desirable than riches (1-16)

Training a child in the right way means teaching him a right value system. A good name is more desirable than riches (1). We should despise no one, for God made us all (2). We must teach our children humility and the fear of the Lord (4); diligence (13); generosity (9); purity (11,14); prudence (3,16). We must discipline children (15). All of us find many excuses for laziness. Two excuses are in verse 13.

2. So that your trust may be in the Lord (17-29)

The words of God kept in our hearts give us true wisdom. There are no short cuts to wealth or wisdom. Wealth that comes by oppressing the weak or by sneakily moving boundary stones will not last. We must be careful about the friends we make (24); we must not be good-minded when it comes to money (26). We must fear God, respect others, and work hard.

One word: When he is old, he will not turn from it.

DON'T ENVY SINNERS

Proverbs 23:1-35

1. Don't be a slave to food and drink (1-8;20;26-35)

When one dines with a ruler, he should not think only about eating. He should pay attention to his host (1-3). When a stingy man invites you to eat and drink, his heart is not in it, so avoid such invitations. Gluttons, drunkards and those who chase women seem to live glamorous and exciting lives, but the outcome of such lives is tragic (20,26-28). Riches sprout wings and fly away (5). Verses 29-35 describe the agony of a person who is a slave to alcohol. We must be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

2. Discipline children (9-25)

It is hard to discipline those whom we love, but if we really love our children, we will discipline them. 'Punish with the rod and save his soul from death.' We must not try to protect our children or our sheep from God's discipline, but we must help them learn and grow from it.

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see worldly people from your point of view. Help me to be zealous for the fear of the Lord, and hold on to a sure hope (17,18).

One Word: Be zealous for the fear of the Lord

Bible Resource Data Base

Proverbs 1:1~31:31

Proverbs , Sarah Barry
Proverbs 1:1~31:31

The Path of Life, LA UBF

Daily Bread