Arizona sun., 1947-08-01

OF The Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.
TRUTH must be translated into
= living, and there is no place
where it can be more effective than
in the home. We will want to make
much of this lesson, for it is the
only one during the entire year
which deals directly with the home.
The book Of Proverbs, to which
we were introduced last Sunday,
abomds in practical advice with
definitely spiritual emphasis, a
combination at once wholesome and
effective. This Is the first of eight
lessons making application Of Prov
erbs to the problems Of modern life.
Everyone in the home has q
measure of responsibility for MAX
ing the family life what it ought
to be. No one from the small child
to the great-grandmOther is with
out influence, and each must con-
tribute to the welfare Of the home.
Our lesson reaches from the young
person to the grandfather rejoic-
ing in his children's children.
It begins quite properly with
I. Youth Looking to Parents (1:8.
8; 6:2O-23: %: :22-26).
YOUNG people want to be wen-
dressed and properly groomed.
They are interested In that which
adorns and improves their appear
ance. It is right that they should
have such concern. Let us remind
them, however, that a young man
or woman should not only be phys
ically weIl-groomed, but spiritual
ly attractive as well. If we should
give as much thought to that side
of our beings as we do to our bodies,
there would be wonderful improve
ment in the life Of the individual
and in the home.
The child who is properly instruct
ed, and who is responsive to that in
struction, is prepared for life no
matter where it may lead him (6:22)
Wherever and whenever he needs
guidance, night or day. it is with
him. Even when he sleeps, he is in
the hand of God for blessing.
Let no young man or woman be
betrayed into that awful folly Of
our day which neglects the teach
ing of parents and. of the church.
Disaster is ahead on that road
sure disaster, and swift!
But now look at the other side Of
the matter, where we see
II. Parents Looking After Youth
09:18; 22:6).
kTHERE is foolish idea current
l. in our day which says that the
way to rear children is to let them
develop according to their own in
terests and instincts, without disci-
pline or definite guidance.
The fruits of that kind of child
training are now being harvested in
the present crop of juvenile delin-
quents. We have the sad and awful
proof before us that children can
not be reared that way.
We are not pleading for a re-
turn to the unduly restrictive
measures of some of our fOrefa-
Tiers; children are not helped by
harshness or cruelty. But there
is proper place for definite in
structiOn, for discipline, yes, even
for chastening when that becomes
necessary.
The larger part, and the most eff
fective part, of this matter is the
training Of the child (22:6) and when
properly done it brings forth the fin
est of results in later life. The boy
who has been taught and directed
right may get on a sidetrack for a
time, but there is always the prom
ise of return to the right way.
This business of rearing children
calls for the best any Of us can
put into it, and over and above that,
all the grace and wisdom that God
can and will give us.
We have reserved one verse for
our final point. for here we find
III. Age and Youth Working To
gether Q7:6).
old men need encouragement,
and they receive 1t in no rich
er or more satisfying measure
than In the delight they take In
their children's children. Young
people should remember that,
and not fail to give to their grand
parents, as well as their parents,
the full measure Of their interest
and devotion.
But now note that 1.-The glory Of
children are their fathers" yes, and
grandfathers. How sad it is when
boy has to be ashamed Of his IA
ther or one of his grandparents.
That puts on each one Of us who
has children a truly weighty respon-
sibility. We must walk worthily be-
fore God, and before our children.
even down to old age, when our
grandchildren look to us for an ex-
ample Of godliness and gracious iv-