Teaching Values

September 18, 2011


Background Scripture: Proverbs 10:1 – 15:33
Lesson Passage: Proverbs 15:21 – 33

It is much easier to pass on material goods to our children than it is to pass on our values. Estate planners who strive to do both find that it is indeed a very difficult yet worthwhile endeavor. Before we can pass on either material goods or values, we must be diligent to teach our heirs how to appreciate and cherish what we leave in their possession if there is to be any hope of it being protected and eventually passed on to future generations we may never know. Part of our background scripture states that a good man leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren. This is extremely difficult to accomplish if our children are not properly instructed. In spite of the difficulty, nothing is more precious than our values. Our values define who we are, what we live for, and what impact we wish to make in this world. The greatest value we hold is our personal relationship with God. It defines who we are. It defined who our parents were. In fact, our spirituality was instilled in many of us early in life when we had little or no appreciation for it. As we grew older, we discovered that the quality of our lives revolved around our relationship with God. When we are submissive and obedient to His guidance and counsel, our lives are enriched with the things that really matter in life. Our relationship with God defines our relationship with our fellowman. When we consider the abiding virtues of faith, hope, and love, love is the only one that is demonstrated through relationship with our fellowman. Therefore, the bible teaches us that love is the greatest of the virtues. Love propels us to win our friends over to God that they too may enjoy the quality of spiritual life that we do. Proverbs admonishes us that he who wins souls is wise. All of the faith and hope in the world would never be enough to enhance and enrich the quality of our lives on a level comparable to what happens when we dare to walk in love towards each other. Hope keeps us hanging on so that we never quit or despair. Faith opens doors that seemed impossible to enter or exit at some point. Through faith we can indeed have much of this world’s material goods. But what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? So Solomon advises that he that is greedy of gain will eventually bring trouble to his house. Life does not consist of the abundance of goods that one may possess. Rather, advice and instruction are sought after by the truly wise. This puts the wise in the company of the wise. Through this affiliation his wisdom increases. Those who follow fools do so to their own destruction. The wise build houses but the foolish tears them down. The tragedy of the foolish is that their way seems right to them although it is leading them to destruction. Again, Proverbs teaches us that having a work ethic is profitable to all. God sees all things that transpire in this life both good and evil. There is nothing hidden from Him. He will bring everything into judgment. There is no greater joy for a father than to see his son walk in the way of wisdom. This is an indication that the values he has taught have been received and are being practiced by his son.


Robert C. Hudson
September 10, 2011