TLIC FAMILY. PROVERBS. APRIL 30: FATHER, MOTHER.

TLICfamily

Apr 30

THINK TOGETHER.

What is something you do that makes your parents happy?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 10:1. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

If you are wise, your father will be glad. If you are a fool, your mother will be sad. Why? Because every choice we make effects other people too, not only ourselves. Because we love each other and live with each other, and go to school with each other, and play on the same team with others, and live in the same community as others, every wise or foolish thing we do will make the life of someone else either happier or sadder.

As you grow up you will likely hear people tell you that you have to do what is best for YOU. "Follow your heart," they might say. Or, "Be true to yourself." But this assumes that our lives aren't connected to many other lives. When a baby is born it is deeply connected to its mom and dad. That's why what we do makes them glad or sorrowful. And as we grow up our life becomes connected too many other people too – siblings, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members. This is why we must choose to be wise, because nothing we do is done in private.

This is especially true if you are connected to Jesus. When Jesus lives in our hearts, everything we do makes him either glad or sad. Not mad. Jesus isn't angry at us, but he is sad when we act like a fool and only care about ourselves. And if you are a Christian you must know that everything you do affects the other Christians that you go to church with too. The Bible says that we are all connected to each other by Jesus. So the question is never, "What is best for me?" The question is always, "What is best for all of us?"

Because of Jesus we are connected to others by his Spirit and his love.

With Jesus we can choose to do what is best for others, no just ourselves.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 together. Talk about how together in Jesus we are all one body. Point out how what we do with one body part affects the whole body (hands, feet, eyes, etc.). This is true with how our lives affect others as well.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, help me to see that nothing I do is private. It all affects others starting with my family. Help me to choose what is best for you and others first. Amen.

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Check out Psalms on ToLiveIsChrist blog! –> Click Here

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