Best friend

A young lady who knows two of my sons asked me the other day to write something about how to raise young children in a Godly manner in Words for the Day; she told me that she felt that I had done a good job in raising my sons and wanted to know my thoughts about raising kids. To tell you the truth I would advise her to do as I do with “any” serious issue and simply go to the Bible for help. The book written by King Solomon, Proverbs, would be an excellent place to start. This book is written expressly in that fashion; instruction to the family concerning Godly living and Godly wisdom.

I was talking to a friend the other day about the Bible and shared with him my belief that the Bible is similar to an owner’s manual in a vehicle. If you want your vehicle to be trouble free over a long period of time, then you should follow the instructions in the owner’s manual. Change the oil as often as directed, rotate the tires, grease the fittings, et al, according to schedule and you will undoubtedly enjoy your vehicle much more as if it were poorly maintained. Our lives are similarly connected to the Bible. If we want peace, joy, and happiness we should follow the instructions laid out in the Bible. If we ignore and/or disobey the Bible and allow sin to dominate, the results are less than desirable as it can lead to all kinds of bad consequences such as poor behavior including lying, lusting, committing adultery, cheating, stealing, coveting, failing to forgive, gossiping, etc. – Our existence will be miserable.

I think many people have the mistaken belief that the Bible is just a book of stringent rules that if followed would mean that their lives would no longer be fun. This line of thinking is satanic and nothing could be further from the truth. Bitterness, jealousy, feelings of inadequacy, greed, lack of fulfillment, and hot anger are just some of the maladies that could be avoided if the teachings in the Bible were followed not to mention divorce, DUI related car accidents, drug addiction, and suicide. None of that is fun, but satan does not extol that side of the ungodly lifestyle. All one needs to do is pick up one of those Hollywood magazines to understand that the so called, “beautiful people” and their wicked lifestyle of ungodly living leads to sad miserable lives and it is obvious to me that Bible study is sorely needed in Hollywood as with the rest of the world.

God is not some stern taskmaster who wants to make our lives miserable; He is a loving father who wants us to have joy and peace in our lives as much as possible while in this world in our fallen state. He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins in order that we might be forgiven and redeemed at the end of this life and restored to be a part of God’s glory. To help us get through this twisted world until that glorious day, He chooses to guide us via His word, the Holy Bible. What a shame that so few people ever pick it up. I would not want to exist if I could not read my Bible; (seriously!) It comforts me when I am down; it encourages me when I am discouraged. It helps me find the proper answer for the toughest questions and the easy ones. It is like an old friend to me that I can go to and seek Godly counsel on any subject at any time. In fact it is my BEST friend, because it is God talking to me through it.

If I could impart any of the wisdom that has sunk into my thick, hard, rebellious, old wrinkled-up gray head, I would advise you to pick up that Bible and start reading. Begin by reading Romans first and then go wherever you are led. Use the reference section to look up key words for whatever it is that you seek guidance. I encourage you to make it your goal to read it cover to cover in order that you might know what it says and so you do not have to rely on some preacher who may or may not have read it themselves to tell you what God wants you to do and what is right and what is wrong according to “God” and not just according to the preacher. Get in the habit of reading it every day and soon you will begin to understand Godly wisdom versus worldly wisdom. They are quite different and the verse below amplifies that sentiment.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your
heart,
And lean not on your own
understanding