Words of Wisdom

"Be not deceived: Evil company corrupts good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
   
    Thought: Companion to this is the adage: "Birds of a feather flock together" or "You are known by the company you keep."   The role of peer pressure is seen in all these statements.  Peer groups are both good and bad.  If peer pressure keeps us from doing wrong and encourages what is right, we can see the positive side.  The dark side of peer pressure is evident when peer pressure encourages the use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol or any variety of illegal activities.  These words of wisdom tells us to choose our friends carefully.


"
The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot." (Proverbs 10:7)
  
  
Thought: In the Hebrew culture, one's name was considered more than a label, but ideally the outward expression of one's inner nature and character.  A person's name was considered "an immortal part" of the person because it survived his death. Illustrations of this can be seen in the names Abraham Lincoln and Hitler.  Though these men have been dead for a long time, the very mention of their names gives rise to their character.  How often have doors of opportunity for you been opened or closed by the very mention of your name?  Where ever you go, your name will speak long before you get a chance to open your mouth.

"...he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." (Proverbs 10:5b)
  

   
Thought: Laziness in adulthood is the product of an idle youth.  It has been said that " he who idles away the time of his youth will bear the shame of it when old."   Proverbs indicates the root causes of an idle youth are the refusal to listen to parents, speaking ill of parents and wasting of father's resources on foolish and unnecessary things.  On the other hand, some parents abandoned their parental responsibility for their children's laziness and bad name because they have used indulgence instead of restrain, emphasized pleasure instead of godliness, shown favoritism instead of love, passed over little wrongs instead of discipline and given in to demands instead of exercising parental control.  Usually all this is done to "keep the peace" but he result is to reinforce bad behavior and rob the child of the good character traits needed for a productive life.  Laziness is a negative character trait that leads to poverty and stealing.  Young people must accept responsibility for who and what they are because of the choices they make.  Parents who chose to run from parental responsibility must accept accountability for who and what their children are. 

 
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