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.
