No one wants to befriend a thief and killer and other negative traits. There are very few 8 year olds that think they will joyfully enter into a life of crime. Yet it starts with the friendships formed and it grows and unfortunately there are those who have grown up on the wrong side of the law. Proverbs 1:11-19 tells us that we need to beware of the friends we make. From v11-14 there is a description of these people. They prey on the innocent, and kill people needlessly. They are thieves and they take what they want. Then in v15-19 we see the reason why we need to be careful of these kinds of people. They are those that end up destroying themselves. This father, like most others, warns his son that he should not get taken into this trap. The idea is that this son would not follow after people that would bring him down, where he would walk in their midst as one of them. It starts out small but it soon becomes a large problem
   We must also be wise and careful of who we share friendships with. The closest friend to a believer should be the Lord Jesus Christ. Other believers should be closer as well. The best thing for any Christian is to have close friends that are also believers. The encouragement from a good Christian friend is a blessing. We as Christians should always encourage others to live for God. Here, in Proverbs we see the warning that we should be careful who we fellowship with. Who are your closest friends? Are they believers or unbelievers? Does your friendships influence your decisions for Christ, or do those decisions pull you away from God?
    - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton

   Many children when they are young will believe their parents are the smartest people on the planet. Then as a teenager, they think that parents know nothing. And as an adult they learn that parents are indeed wiser than they thought as a teen. One of the reasons for this is that as a teen they are striving for independence, and a natural expression is for them to think that they are more intelligent, especially in making life choices.
   When we look into God's Word, Proverbs 1:8,9 says " My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." The reality is that parents have been through experiences that give them an awareness that young people do not have. In v8 we read that Solomon is asking his son to listen to the teachings of his parents. Solomon had gone through some experiences and as we read these proverbs we will see that Solomon was indeed the wisest man in the world. Since Solomon was so wise, it would also be wise for his son to listen to his words. Not only the wisdom of the father, but also the mother. Both parents deserve respect, but the mother has a special place in the home, and she is to be respected greatly! Verse 9 tells us that the instructions, and the wisdom from parents are like beautiful necklaces and ornaments, and precious jewelry. The best quality a young person can have is the respect for their parents, and the wisdom to hear and listen to their parents advice.
   The reality is that in our culture there are things that parents are teaching their kids that are ungodly. So, a young person must take what their parents say and check them out with the Scriptures, the final authority, and if the parent is wrong in a certain area, it should be brought up with respect and dignity, in a way that honors God.
   The bottom line is that as a child, whether we are 5 or 85, we are to give honor and respect to our parents, listening to their advice, and taking in what they may have to say. We should also always look to our Heavenly Father for advice as well, for He is All-Wise!
         - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton

   Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
   There are two thoughts stated in this passage. Firstly, for one to be wise they need to fear God. This is not the same kind of fear as we say that people are afraid of the dark, or water, spiders, snakes, heights, public speaking, etc. This is a different type of fear. The word refers to a deep respect and reverence for God. To realize who God is, what He has done, the power and knowledge of the Creator should bring us to tremble before Him. One thing lacking in our society today is a fear for God. There is an idea that God is our buddy, and we hang out with Him like an old friend, laughing and doing silly things together. The reality is that God needs to be honored, He deserves respect and reverence. God is our friend, and we can boldly go to Him with our requests, but it should be done in reverence. It is up to the individual to show show reverence in their own way, which means there is no legalistic way of doing it. It is not expected that everyone must sing a Gregorian chant every time they pray, nor to pray in a specific manner. For us to become wiser people, we need to fear God. The beginning of knowledge, or the principle part, the main thing is the fear of God.
    Secondly, fools despise wisdom. Psalm 14:1 says "The fool hath said in his heart there is no god". It is foolish to think that there is no god. Romans 1 tells us that there is no excuse, that creation itself bears witness to God. Many people believe there is no God, and they are fools according to the Bible. It is the fool who hates learning to fear God. If the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge, if we learn by fearing God, then the opposite of that is hating true wisdom, and that is a lack of fear of God.
   Do you fear God? Do you revere Him for all that He has done? If you desire wisdom then begin by fearing God. That fear will lead you to Him as you read His Word.
   - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton
  



Some people are motivated by fear, and others are paralyzed by it.