September 15, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

What Next?

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, today with the help of the Holy Spirit, may I pray sincerely and praise You joyfully.

Read PROVERBS 23:15-35

[15] My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; [16] my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. [17] Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. [18] There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. [19] Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. [20] Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, [21] for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. [22] Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. [23] Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. [24] The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. [25] May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! [26] My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways, [27] for a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. [28] Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men. [29] Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? [30] Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. [31] Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! [32] In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. [33] Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. [34] You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. [35] “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Reflect

“When we are out of sympathy with the young, then I think our work in this world is over” (George McDonald, 1824-1905).

Two aspects of this passage strike me. The first is what the teacher wants for the young men whom he regards with such paternal affection. Does the material prosperity of the next generation preoccupy him? No. Is he primarily concerned that they should all have good jobs, a steady income and be respectable members of the community? No, though he’s not unconcerned about these things. He wants their hearts to be godly. That means that he wants them to be: wise (15); not secretly jealous of sinners, but jealous for the place that reverence will have in their hearts (17); faithfully keeping to the right path—sober (19-21); not led astray by their sexual appetites but loyal to the ways taught by wise and loving parents (26-28). It’s not just “character” that he’s most concerned about, its godly character, yielding godly conduct. That’s what he encourages and it’s what will make him glad. What will please me most when I think of our four children? I think it is these things more than the kind of shallow ambitions that the world teaches parents to have for their offspring.

The second aspect of the passage is simply that he thinks of the next generation and speaks to them in this way. No moans about why young people aren’t “committed” (i.e. turning up to support what the older folk have organized). No grumbling about why they don’t clean up properly after themselves. Godliness has prevented the teacher from being a crabby old complainer. It has given him a genuine concern that understands and loves the next generation.

Apply

Write the names of under-25s that you know: relatives, neighbors, in or away from the Church. Put their names where you will see them often. Pray for them every day.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, my prayer for my children, and children I know, is that they may grow to love You, obey You, and develop into Christian maturity.

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