DAILY DISCIPLINE #73
By Colleen Donahue
If you're a parent and concerned about how to raise good sons and daughters, you have every right to be! You have the monumental task of putting the foundation stones into place. It's this foundation - good or bad- that will be the basis for each decision in their life.
King Solomon, the man of our discussions over the past studies, is like the Jewish father teaching his son a few lessons from the "school of life". In this study, we'll look at Solomon's descriptions of five kinds of people on the path of folly. Each person is described vividly and the consequences for living such lives laid out.
Solomon himself had played the part of a fool many times in his life, despite the fact that he was the wisest man in the world. He was well qualified to warn his son of the many pitfalls before him. You'll be amazed at the accurate character sketches that have not changed over the many centuries since this book was written.
Proverbs- Part 2 - The Path of Folly
THE FOOL
This is a person who lacks sense or judgment; one who spends time idly or aimlessly; one who meddles or tampers thoughtlessly or ignorantly. (Webster dictionary).
Day 1- Foolishness is bound up in the heart of every child but what will ensure that it doesn't stay there?
Proverbs 22:15
Day 2- If parents love their children and are committed to them, what will be necessary?
Proverbs 23:13-14 / 29:17
Day 3- What can be said of a parent who neglects his/her duty in this way?
Proverbs 13:24
Day 4- As a child grows older and is not disciplined, what will happen?
Proverbs 1:7,22 / 12:15 / 15:5,20
Day 5- How then does the mind develop if a foolish child is left unchecked?
Proverbs 15:7,14,21 / 17:16 / 18:2
Day 6- A mind and heart that lacks sense will be expressed first through how a person talks.
Proverbs 10:18 / 12:16,23/ 14:3 / 15:2 / 17:28 / 18:2, 6-7 / 20:3 / 26:6-7,9 / 29:11
Day 7- Foolish talk then gives way to foolish action.
Proverbs 10:23 / 13:16,19 / 14:16,24,29 / 15:21 / 21:20 / 26:11
Day 8- Who does a foolish person hurt the most?
Proverbs 10b / 17:21,25
Day 9- What advice does Solomon give if we have to deal with a foolish person?
Proverbs 23:9 / 26:4,5 / 29:9
Day 10- What is a fool's reward?
Proverbs 3:35 /10:13 / 16:22/ 19:29/ 26:1,3
Day 11- What will destroy a fool?
Proverbs 1:32 / 10:8 / 14:16
Day 12- Who will a fool eventually answer to?
Proverbs 11:29
THE SIMPLE
This is a person who is naive and untaught. He/she is not an imbecile, one who cannot comprehend, or a fool who despises wisdom. Instead, he/she is one whose exposure to life and wisdom has been limited. Because of inexperience he/she is gullible and easily influenced.
Day 13- What are the three main problems of a simple person?
Proverbs 14:15,18 / 22:3
Day 14- How do other people perceive the simple?
Proverbs 7:6-7 / 9:4
Day 15- What does a simple person need to do?
Proverbs 8:5 / 9:6
THE SCOFFER
This is a proud, arrogant person who is self-opinionated and full of insults and contempt.
Day 16- Who is a scoffer?
Proverbs 21:24
Day 17- Often by their cutting tongue they can cause great problems in a job situation, a family, an organization, or even....
Proverbs 29:8
Day 18- Why is a scoffer one of the hardest type of person for an employer or a teacher or a father to handle?
Proverbs 13:1 / 14:6 /15:12
Day 19- What happens if a scoffer is reproved or disciplined?
Proverbs 9:7-8 / 19:25A / 21:11
Day 20- What is the only way to deal with one?
Proverbs 22:10
Day 21- Not only is a scoffer an abomination to men (Proverbs 24:9) but what is God's estimation of him and reward?
Proverbs 3:34A / 19:29A
THE SLUGGARD AND SLOTHFUL
Day 22- The best way to define the sluggard is to describe this person as Solomon has done in a very colorful way!
Proverbs 13:4 / 19:24 / 20:4 / 21:25 / 22:13 / 24:30-31 / 26:13-16
Day 23- Laziness and self-indulgence seem to be two of the problems of a sluggard. What will be the consequences to them?
Proverbs 6:9-11 / 10:4-5 / 12:24,27 / 19:15 / 20:13 / 24:32-34
Day 24- As a result of their laziness what kind of quality of life does a sluggard put up with?
Proverbs 15:19
Day 25- What does the sluggard desperately need to learn from the ant?
Proverbs 6:6-9
Day 26- What is Solomon telling us by his descriptions of the lazy man in....
Proverbs 18:9
Day 27- In contrast to the lazy person what can be said for the diligent person that applies himself to his work?
Proverbs 22:29
THE DRUNKARD / GLUTTON
Day 28- What good reason does a parent have for steering children away from the company of drunkards and gluttons of various kinds?
Proverbs 23:20-21
Day 29- In modern generations, we have been encouraged that "to do it if it feels good!" But what feels good at the moment can have terrible consequences later.
Proverbs 23:29-35
THE CONSEQUENCES
Eventually, every son and daughter must choose for themselves between right and wrong, good and evil, truth or lies. What a parent has taught will be tested.
Day 30- What are sure to be the consequences for every man or woman that consistently ignores God and does what feels good and generally chooses the life of a fool? Proverbs 1:24-32 / 5:11-14 / 11:27 /24:12,20
Day 31- What can we do to prevent ourselves from these consequences?
Proverbs 28:13
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