Read
Warnings
8My child, obey the teachings
of your parents,
9and wear their teachings
as you would a pretty hat
or a lovely necklace.
10Don't be tempted by sinners
or listen 11when they say,
“Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
just for the fun of it!
12They're well and healthy now,
but we'll finish them off
once and for all.
13We'll take their valuables
and fill our homes
with stolen goods.
14If you join our gang,
you'll get your share.”
15Don't follow anyone like that
or do what they do.
16They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
perhaps even murder.
17They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
but ignores the trap.
18They gang up to murder someone,
but they are the victims.
19The wealth you get from crime
robs you of your life.
Reflect
Over and over in Scripture we read that children have one responsibility in their families—to obey their parents. The world would be a much better place if children were instructed well by their parents and responded obediently to their instructions. Much of today’s crime and violence can be traced back to the home where good examples and teaching were absent or where the children were disobedient.
Solomon’s instructions are consistent with Scripture and common sense: when children obey their parents, their lives are much more meaningful and productive.
In Compassion’s work with children around the world, we find ourselves immersed in societies where gangs are more powerful than governments. Children are lured into gangs. They get trapped and often the only way out is death or incarceration. When we get to know these young adults, we often find they come from broken homes where there is a grave lack of positive role models. We often need to provide role models at the Compassion centre where these children can see how God intended for us to live.
My wife and I were childhood sweethearts. I gave her a locket with my photo in it. She proudly wore it around her neck, and, as I had hoped, she routinely opened the locket, looked at my photo and was reminded that I loved her. In return she gave me a signet ring that reminded me constantly of our love. Solomon says we should wear our parents’ teachings “as you would a lovely hat or a pretty necklace.” He’s helping us understand the value of remembering who we are—children of our parents, and what our values are— those of our family. Whenever we are tempted by evil people or evil situations, we are to open the locket and be reminded of those values that define us as children of our parents and children of our God.
Respond
Oh Lord, help us as parents to be exemplary models to our children. Help us as children, to honour the values of our parents. Put a burning desire within us to be obedient children both to our earthly parents and our heavenly father. Amen.
Barry Slauenwhite
Dr. Barry Slauenwhite is Canadian Regional Director for Best Christian Workplaces Instiute. He is also President Emeritus of Compassion Canada where he has served since 1983. Barry's advocacy for the poor has taken him to 61 countries. From his experience as a pastor and a ministry leader, he passionately works to promote holistic child development through the local church as being the most effective kingdom-building strategy available to the Christian world. Barry's latest book, Strategic Compassion, addresses the theological implications of poverty and draws a conclusion that the gospel is the most effective tool the church has to eradicate poverty.