Pursue Righteousness For Your Kid's Sake

6 things are certain in this life. There is wisdom, righteousness and goodness and there is also wickedness, foolishness and death. We, as humans, are given a choice as to which path we will follow. Throughout the Proverbs God gives us warning of the consequences of our decisions and also instructions to guide us down the right path.

Proverbs 10:1-3 “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”

In these phrases the wise man speaks about the value of serving God. He declares a wise son is a joy to his father and mother rather than becoming a weight to them. He also states that pursuing righteousness leads to deliverance from death and provision for the soul.

What your children do will affect you for the rest of your life. When they are successful you are well pleased; but when they do something foolish it breaks your heart. Gladness or grief comes as a response to your children’s actions. No matter how old they become, their actions will have some kind of effect on you.

Remember a fool in Scripture is never a mentally deficient person, but someone who is arrogant, self-reliant, and orders his/her life as if there were no God. In Luke 12:16-20 the rich man was not mentally deficient, but he was a fool because he supposed that his soul could live on the things in the barn, giving no thought for eternity.  

Wickedness has been the ruination of more families than we can even imagine. In fact it does and can lead to death and loss without recovery. That’s why it’s best to train up a child in the way of righteousness so that wherever they go that training will not depart from them. I've known some young people who have gotten in a whole lot of trouble, but they remembered the Lord before it was too late because of that Biblical training.

Children learn what they live. If they live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If they live with hostility, they learn to fight. If they live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive. If they live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves. If they live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If they live with jealousy, they learn what envy is. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

On the other hand, if children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient. If they live with encouragement, they learn to be confident. If they live with praise, they learn to appreciate. If they live with approval, they learn to be themselves. If they live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world. If they live with recognition, they learn to have goals. If they live with sharing, they learn to be generous. If they live with honesty and fairness, they learn what truth and justice are. If they live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them. If they live with friendliness, they learn there are nice people in this world. If they live in a righteous environment, they learn how to have peace of mind and with God.

The Lord will keep those who pursue righteousness and your most valuable asset is your children. Don't let it be wasted!