Proverbs 17 & 18: The Father
Verse of the Day: (17:6) Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
1. The Father (17:1-16)
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. (17:2)
Fathers, are you the glory of your children? If they are proud of you, especially when you are a godly and loving father who loves God, your wife, and children, and others, including your enemies, then you are indeed a real joy and blessing to all. However, if your children are ashamed of you, please ponder and reflect upon your life. Do you know the gospel, that God loves you that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you, as well as the sins of the whole world? When you believe in and receive Jesus as your personal Saviour in your heart, you are then called His children. Indeed, our children and grandchildren are our crowns and joy, and let us love, pray for, and lead them to the saving grace of Jesus. However, it grieves and saddens us if our children and loved ones keep rejecting the gospel, but let us not quit, but keep praying for them, that one day, they shall finally believe in Jesus, and we shall all be called God’s children, and joint-heirs with Christ, and we shall then call our God, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:14-17)
2. The Friend (17:17-28)
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (17:17)
Do you have a friend who is closer than your brother? Indeed, when we receive Jesus as our personal Saviour, sometimes our Christian friends become closer to us than our siblings, especially when our siblings have yet to believe in Jesus. Indeed, our godly friends will stick close with us through thick and thin. Let us stay close to God, and be friendly to all, and we will have many friends who will fellowship and pray with us, and together we will share the gospel, and love and serve Him. However, we will soon realise that not all our friends are faithful, and some or many may fail, and even betray us. However, there is one Friend who will stay with us forever, and He is none other than Jesus. Let us be Jesus’ friends, as He is our faithful and perfect Friend. (James 2:23-26)
3. The Fool (18:1-24)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. (18:2)
Have you ever encounter a fool? A fool will shame himself with his careless words and deeds. Let us only be wise in God, and we shall be great blessings to all. A fool may think he is wise, and the world may think us as fools when we believe in God. However, Let us rather be fools for God, and have a hell to shun, and a heaven to gain, than to be wise in this world and eventually suffer in the devil’s hell forever. (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be a godly father who truly loves my children and all.
