MISLED by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: How did we survive before GPS! It was somewhere in the mid-2000s that I first heard about the Global Positioning System. If you were born after this time, you’re an IY and you probably don’t know what it was like before GPS. How many of ya’ll remember carrying an Atlas in the car/truck? How many of ya’ll still do? How many of you remember stopping to ask for directions? How many of ya’ll remember getting the wrong directions? I remember one time driving 2 hours in the wrong direction before realizing what had happened! In life, you need the right directions. Wrong directions or failure to follow the right directions can lead to disaster. The Bible is God’s right directions for our life every time. In fact, Jesus is the Way of life. But, he is much more than just our GPS. He is also our road and our destination; and, he never misleads us. Today, in our miniseries called SKILLFUL on the Book of Proverbs, we come to our final message titled MISLED.
Proverbs 6 20 “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress.”
Question: How is your GPS? I’m not talking about the Global but the God Positioning System. Are you going in the right direction? Is Jesus your Way and your Destination? Are you saved?
Context: I’ve been very pleased by the positive response of so many of you to our short series on the Book of Proverbs. Many of you are reading it in your daily devotions, and that’s wonderful! Some of you contacted me with questions about something in this book, and that’s awesome! Others of you are disappointed that we’re not staying longer in this book. I promise you that we’ll be back. In fact, every year, we will do a short series on the Book of Proverbs. Why short? Because of the concentrated truth principles in this book. We can handle it only in small doses. If not, it can become unattainable, repetitive, and, even dry. Little at a time allows you to appreciate and apply.
Now, back to our final message: Listen again to Proverbs 6:20 “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” Before we go any further, the primary instructors in any child’s life are the parents. They have to provide their kids with the GPS of life. We need to spend some time here. This message will be top heavy. There’s a saying that has been around for some time—“It takes a village to raise a child.” I understand what people mean by it. Back in the day, a child was influenced by everyone from the neighbors, church members, teachers, coaches, and anyone on the street. That may have worked at one time when people believed the same, but, today, I don’t want the village to raise my children. Why? Because the village has changed! Why would I want someone who doesn’t share my values to influence my children? There are many village idiots running around! Listen carefully: God has given the parents the primary responsibility of training up their child in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)Some know how to bring children into this world but raising them is not their problem. They are absentee parents. In some cases, the parents (or parent) actually do more harm than good to the child. It’s very tragic. Some people don’t want the burden of raising kids. They see it as a waste of time and energy. No one did it for them. Why should they do it for someone else?
Other parents believe that it is their responsibility to instruct their children, but they do it for the wrong reasons:
- Self-image: Some do it to make themselves look good. They give their children their best so they themselves can shine. Some even do it to meet the approval of their legalistic communities.
- Trophy: Some do it to live vicariously through them. This happens with athletics, beauty contests, and academics.
- Nursing Home: Some do it so they can get something back from their children. In Asian countries, and even here, the parents invest in their children so their children will take care of them in their old age. They are to take on the family business or responsibility. This is not totally wrong but it’s not the right reason.
- Instinct: Some do it because they truly love their children. They grew up with loving parents. So, they genuinely love their children and try their best to instruct them. I would take this over all the other reasons, but, it’s still the wrong reason.
So, what is the right reason for instructing our children? I can give many references but here’s a big one from Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD…” The word for “heritage means “inheritance” or “gift.” This means that our children don’t ultimately belong to us but to God. He wants us to cooperate with him in bringing them into this world to fulfil his holy purpose. Malachi 2:15 “But did He not make them one, (talking about a husband and a wife) Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring…” So also, 1 Corinthians 7:14 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.” In both the passages, children are to be godly, God’s representatives in this world. That’s why he wants us to join him in training them in the right way, in giving them the GPS of life. In the process, he loans them to us to share in the joys of life—baby, childhood, growing up years, marriage, grandchildren, etc.
Application: How do you see your children? How do you see your role as parents? Was that done for you growing up?
We spent a lot of time on the importance of parenthood but we will move rapidly now. Listen again—20 “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” This is not your personal commandment and law. The word for law is “torah,” which in this context is referring to the law of the covenant, the Word of God. You have to instruct and model it. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”
Application: How well have you instructed your children in the law of the covenant, the Word of God? This is their GPS of life.
Now comes the major purpose of the GPS: 24 “To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. 25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.” Instead of living by instincts, emotions, or senses, we need to teach our children to live by the truth coming from the Word of God. We should teach them to stick to the GPS of God’s Word. Even if the most compatible person were to walk through those doors and you feel an instant connection with them, your warning signal should go off! What happens when it doesn’t? Verse 26 “For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.” This is not the best translation. A better translation would be—“A harlot will cost you a loaf of bread but an adulteress will cost you your life.” This does not mean that going to prostitutes is better than committing adultery. You need to read Proverbs 5. There Solomon warns his son against the “immoral woman.” In Proverbs 6, he warns his son against someone worse than the “immoral woman,” the adulteress. This is someone who does not need a loaf of bread, one meal. She wants your soul. She wants to destroy you. Although this is written in the masculine, the application is to both men and women. Teach your daughters to stay clear of adulterers. In fact, teach both your boys and girls to be faithful in their marriage.
Let’s keep reading: 27 Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent. 30 People do not despise a thiefif he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. 31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. 32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. 33Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy isa husband’s fury; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
Application: Do you take the time to talk to your children about these things? Unfortunately, TV and social media is now raising our children. That’s where they are getting their values. That’s one big reason we are hosting the marriage conference.
Does all this mean that you will have perfect kids? Of course, not. It’s about raising kids who recognize how much they need God to walk in his way. It’s about raising kids with the GPS of life so they won’t make immoral mistakes.
Most importantly, have you introduced your children to Jesus?
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Invitation: Is Jesus your light and your way? He will never mislead you.
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