PROVERBS- FAMILY MATTERS
January 9, 2005 PM
Sermon Outline
PROV 24:3,4
INTRO: There is just no doubting the fact that family is a matter of great interest and concern to God. Matters relating to family are mentioned from chapter 1 of Genesis throughout the Bible. From Gen 2:24 come the memorable words Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. When we come to the book of Proverbs, it is evident, almost from the beginning, that it has much to say about family matters. Tonight, I would like to assemble some of that valuable information into a single lesson ... family matters.
1. The foundation of the home and family - righteousness - 12:7
a. we use the definition in Ps 119:172
b. this, then, gives me the source of information for righteousness
c. and God has most assuredly given us His will concerning the home
d. I think of Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-21; 1 Tim 5:2-8; Titus 2:1-5
e. homes founded on His revealed will have strong foundations and have the basis for surviving storms of every sort
2. The husband - 31:28
a. I believe the husband can be a great blessing to his wife
b. here is a husband praising his wife - does this help her to be a better wife?
c. earlier, the husband is said to trust her (31:11) - so, he is trusting and praising her ... such a husband communicates value to his wife
d. Prov 5:18 - this rejoicing continues throughout the marriage ... even into old age - recall Mal 2:15
e. Eph 5:28 - if we do this for wives, it will build them & strengthen marriage
3. The wife - 19:14
a. a prudent wife? think of 3:6 as the basis of this prudence (14:1)
b. then, 31:10 - she is virtuous - more valuable than the most precious material possessions
c. because of her virtues, her husband safely trusts her - 31:11
d. such a wife is truly a gift from the Lord
e. this wife lived her role in such a way as to be deserving of husbands praise
4. The parents - 1:8
a. one of the important roles of parents is that of teaching and training - 31:1
b. Prov 29:15b reminds us of a very important truth - a child left to himself may well describe a vast number of todays children
c. and parents then wonder why their children become rebellious, unruly, uncaring, without affection and loyalty (not to excuse the children, however)
d. Prov 4:4 - here is a verse I contend is filled with parental affection! (note Ps 17:8 - the apple of the eye)
e. Prov 29:15a - parents must correct their children with firmness, conviction
5. The children - 10:1
a. children do have a responsibility to their parents - to consider how their own behavior will affect parents
b. yes, their behavior will depend in large part on parents parenting
c. but the Lord makes it clear that children cannot behave irresponsibly
d. so, Prov 28:7 - ...a companion of riotous men shameth his father
e. Prov 30:11 with 20:20 - parents are not perfect - but parents who are in the Lord and giving their all to parenting deserve respect, honor and love
6. The grandparents - 17:6
a. I know of few grandparents who would not agree with this passage
b. Ex 10:2 & Deut 6:2 - God has given grandparents a very important role in the lives of their grandchildren! teaching, reminding, encouraging
c. as our society has become more mobile, transient, families are losing this very important support and influence
d. Prov 13:22 - Im sure that in the ancient culture of Proverbs a material inheritance was much more important than now ... but I wonder if the spiritual inheritance is much more important ... and how are we acquitting ourselves as grandparents in the spiritual inheritance department?
e. I take very seriously this aspect of family matters!!
CLOSE: Read again the text with me - Prov 24:3,4. Are the rooms in your house filled with the precious and pleasant riches of happiness, love and contentment? It takes each of us building on righteousness to make it so.
Cecil A. Hutson
January 9, 2005