Thoughts For The Day

We find that the book of wisdom has a lot to say about the raising of children. Verse 11 tells us that children are known by their actions, whether those actions are good deeds or bad deeds. We all gain a reputation, whether it be an admirable one, or one that is shameful by the things we do. All of us fail at times and even our children will act naughty sometimes. However, when a deed is repeated over and over again, it establishes the character of a child (or adult). We all have known people who are habitually tardy or who habitually lie and therefore, they are known as being unreliable and/or a liar. It is important as parents to work with children, teaching and training them in character development. Teaching alone is not enough, we must also train them. That means we are to help them reinforce good habits and overcome the bad habits. This comes by patiently instructing and enforcing what we teach them.

One of the most unkind things a parent can do is to tell a child they will take certain actions if the child is disobedient and then fail to do it. The child then knows that he does not have to mind, as there really will be no action taken on the parent's part for their disobedience. Many times we find undisciplined children are simply a reflection of undisciplined parents. It takes hard work, patience and prayer to raise children that are known as good children. The Bible instructs children to obey their parents while telling the parents to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We notice in the next verse of our study in Proverbs that the Lord mentions that He made the hearing ear and seeing eye. Notice this verse follows the one about how a child acts. There is definitely a correlation between what a child hears and sees, as to how he will act. There have been many studies done lately that have proved that behavior is learned from what a child hears and views. Children who are allowed to watch violent and evil movies will many times attempt to do the things that they see in those movies, while good movies inspire children to want to be like the role models they view on the screen. It is very important that we do not allow our children to view movies with wicked and occult themes. Demonic influences through the media will adversely affect children and adults, as well.

Pornography is an evil that is hurting our society and causing it to deteriorate. It is creating unhealthy relationships at all levels. Marriages are falling apart because perverted sexual experiences are preferred over normal sexual relations. People's minds are preoccupied with evil and lustful thoughts that keep them from enjoying life. Rape, sodomy, incest, bestiality and other evils are on the increase, destroying the lives of many. We must protect our thoughts and our children's by guarding what passes through the gates of the eyes and ears. Evil people are doing everything they can to protect the right to view pornography on the internet and elsewhere, to the detriment of our children. They demand this right because they contend they are adults and should be allowed to see anything they want to see. God is watching us in our private lives and our homes. The Bible declares pornography as wrong and sinful, and people who play with this sin will find it has a deadly sting to it in the end. In the Psalm below, David declared that he would set no wicked thing before his eyes.

Psalm 101:2-4:
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.