Our nation, as well as other nations in the world, are in a state of crisis and have been for decades, and many deny this based on the confused standards of "political correctness". It is a crisis of values in the United States, as it is elsewhere. In the United States it is particularly apparent in our mayor urban centers - New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco - cities where it seems especially severe. Its effects are indeed felt from coast to coast and border. Gangs, violence, crime, drugs, abortion, dishonesty, immorality, lack of integrity, incivility, hatred of other races, ethnicities, and even genders. In a land where a man's word was his bond, and where a handshake used to guarantee fulfilment, many today are uncertain whom they can trust. God's word has a good bit to say about the responsibilities of parwnts to make sure their children grow up with godly values. In this episode, Fred and Arnie discuss the true inheritance which the Bible teaches, that we as fathers and grandfathers owe our children and grandchildren. Take about 30 minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify that we are saying what the Bible says.
Our nation, as well as other nations in the world, are in a state of crisis and have been for decades, and many deny this based on the confused standards of "political correctness". It is a crisis of values in the United States, as it is elsewhere. In the United States it is particularly apparent in our mayor urban centers - New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco - cities where it seems especially severe. Its effects are indeed felt from coast to coast and border. Gangs, violence, crime, drugs, abortion, dishonesty, immorality, lack of integrity, incivility, hatred of other races, ethnicities, and even genders. In a land where a man's word was his bond, and where a handshake used to guarantee fulfilment, many today are uncertain whom they can trust. God's word has a good bit to say about the responsibilities of parwnts to make sure their children grow up with godly values. In this episode, Fred and Arnie discuss the true inheritance which the Bible teaches, that we as fathers and grandfathers owe our children and grandchildren. Take about 30 minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify that we are saying what the Bible says.
Fred 0:00
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at 10:30am, 5:30pm. We meet for bible study at 9:30am on Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net or to Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com
Arnie 0:32
Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell with Woodland church of Christ in Sumter, South Carolina. And this is What Does The Bible Say? Proverbs chapter 13 and verse 22. Solomon wrote, A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children. And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Our nation is in a state of crisis and has been for decades. But it's in denial partly due to the confused and absurd standards of 'political correctness". It's a crisis of values not only apparent in our major urban centers New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, cities where it seems especially severe. Its effects indeed are felt from coast to coast border to border. Gangs, violence, crime, drugs, abortion, dishonesty, immorality, lack of integrity, incivility, hatred of other races and ethnicities and even genders. In the land where a man's once, word once was his bond and where handshake used to guarantee fulfilment of an agreement, many today are uncertain who they can trust. God's word charges parents with the responsibility of ensuring that their children grow up with godly values. But according to Pew Research 24 million children, or about one in three children in the United States under 18 years of age today are living with an unmarried parent. 15 million live with a solo mother. 5 million children are living with cohabiting parents. And fewer than half the children in America live in families with both their biological parents who are married to each other. What's the answer to this crisis? What constitutes the true inheritance which the Bible teaches that we as fathers and grandfathers owe our children and grandchildren? What do you have first there Fred?
Fred 2:58
Arnie, I have, the father owes his family In a worthy reputation, and the Bible talks about that in Proverbs 22 one, the proverbist says, A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Then Ecclesiastes seven one, A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of ones birth. And finally, Paul says in First Timothy three, seven, Moreover, he must have a good report. So speaking of elders, He must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil, and you have one Arnie.
Arnie 3:38
And that's really the standard of full development as a Christian, isn't it? Yes, I think I would add to that reverence toward God. Proverbs chapter one, beginning in verse seven says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The few, Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 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. In the hundred and 12th Psalm, beginning in verse one, Praise ye the Lord blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and His righteousness endureth forever. And then in Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 26, and 27, In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to do to depart from the snares of death. And one more passage, Psalm 103, verse 17, and 18, But the mercy of the Lord is forever from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear Him and His righteousness unto children's children. To such as keep his covenant to those that remember His commandments to do them.
Fred 5:10
Well. The father owes his family also a honorable sense of morality. And Proverbs again in chapter five verses three through eight, For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb and her mouth is smoother than oil. But her hand is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down to death her steps take hold on Sheol. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, That thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house. Then again in Proverbs five, 15 through 18, Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Speaking of the man has to stay within his family.
Arnie 6:03
That's right, his wife.
Fred 6:04
Let thy fountains been dispersed abroad and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own and not strangers with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Again Proverbs chapter six verses 24 through 29 To keep thee from the evil woman from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulterous will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not to be burned. Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned? So, he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Then inthe New Testament, the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 13 verse four, Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Then Paul in First Timothy 5:22. He says, Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other men's sins, keep thyself pure. Then back to the writer of the Proverbs, verse chapter seven verses four through 27, Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister, and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house, I looked throughout through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And behold, there met him a woman with the attire and the harlot and subtle of heart. (She is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house. Now, she is without, now in the streets; and lieth in wait at every corner.) So, she caught him and kissed him with an impudent face and said unto him, I have peace offerings with me this day have I paid my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet the diligently to seek thy face. And I have found thee. I have decked my bed was coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come let us take our fill of love until the morning. Let us solace ourselves with loves. For the good man is not at home. He has gone on a long journey. He hath taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightaway as an ox goes to the slaughter. Whereas a fool to the correction of the stocks. Til a dart strike through his liver as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his life. Hearken unto me now therefore, Oh ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth, let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Arnie 9:20
As we used to say the walls have ears and the windows have eyes. Yes, we will be found out. I think I would add to that as part of the heritage an unassailable personal integrity Proverbs chapter 20 and verse seven, The just man walketh in his integrity. His children are blessed after him. And in Proverbs chapter 11 and verse three, The integrity of the upright shall guide them, that the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Job's ninth speech, responding to Bildad in Job 27, beginning in verse three, All the while my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God is in my nostrils. My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you, till I die will I remove mine integrity, I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, I will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. And then in what I would call Job's oath of innocence in job 31 and verses five and six, I have walked with vanity, I have walked with vanity or if my foot has hasted to deceit, let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.
Fred 10:57
Well, Arnie, again a father owes his family also an unquenchable thirst for righteousness. And the Proverbs again writes beginning in chapter three, verse 33. The Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he blesseth the habitation of the just. And David writes in Psalm 24, verses three through five, he says, Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Then in Psalm chapter one, verses one through six again, David says, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water; that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly or not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for God knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Arnie 12:22
Part of that inheritance certainly needs to be strength of character, and I know of no way to teach that to our children and grandchildren, except that we exhibit that ourselves. In Acts chapter five after an angel had freed the apostles from prison, and verse 29, Peter and the other apostles answered, speaking to the Sanhedrin, We ought to obey God, rather than then men. You were in Hebrews chapter 13, a little while ago, verses five and six say, Let your conversation be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have. For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man shall do unto me. I don't know of anybody who demonstrates character more than than Daniel himself. He shows an indomitable character in Daniel chapter six and and verse, one where his options were to serve God or obey man. Beginning in verse one, It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 princes, which should be over the whole kingdom. And over these three and over these, three presidents, of whom Daniel was first and the princes that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because of an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to send him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find none occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error found in him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, king Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom and the governors and princes and counselors and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition, of any man or God, any god or man, for 30 days, save of thee O king, he shall be cast in the den of lions. And now O King establish the decree and sign, the writing that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians which altereth not. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing, and the decree. Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being opened in this chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did afortime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near and spake before the king, concerning the King's decree, Hast thou not signed a decree that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within 30 days, save of thee O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The King answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, that Daniel which is the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition, three times a day. And the king when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said, unto the king, Know O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute of the king established may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. The rest of the story is that God closed the lions mouths. And Darius had a sleepless night and was there before the sun had risen. Calling to Daniel. Daniel was released and his adversaries were thrown to the lions. And it was not a pretty picture.
Fred 13:07
Yes. And then the father also owes his family, a love of the truth. And again, we're in Proverbs chapter 22. Verse six, writer says, Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Then Ephesians chapter six, verse four, Paul writes, And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And Moses writes in Deuteronomy 11:18 through 21, Therefore shall ye lay up these words my in your heart and in your soul, bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thine house and upon thy gates; That your days may be multiplied and the days of your children in the land, which the Lord, sware to your fathers, to give them as the days of heaven upon the earth. As Arnie mentioned, that so many families in our country, do not have a father in the home. And there's no authority figure there. And some of the fathers that are are in the home. They don't seem to love the truth and they don't go by what it says.
Arnie 18:43
And certainly don't set the example that needs to be set. Children need an example in order to develop. That passage that you just read in Deuteronomy 11 sounds an awful lot like a restatement of many of the things that Moses had said In Deuteronomy, chapter six. He's emphasizing that particular point, I think I would add to our list of, of inheritance, is a virtuous example since we're talking about that. A virtuous example that can be emulated. Paul writes to Timothy and Tim, First Timothy chapter four, and verse 12. He said, Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Genesis chapter four, as you know, Adam and Eve had three sons that are mentioned in the scriptures. There were Cain and Abel and then after Cain slew Abel, Seth was was born. And in verse 19 of Genesis 18 God says, I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the the way of the Lord. You know what I'm reading the wrong the wrong passage here. Let me go back to Genesis chapter six and verse 27. And to Seth, to him also was born a son, and he called his name Enos; then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. That's an interesting statement as to what led to men being impressed by that example. Genesis 18, was really about, about Abraham and the statement that God made with regard to to Abraham and verse 19, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him. They shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham, that which he has spoken of him. In First Peter chapter two, Peter summarizes what I think to be a, this, a summary of the Christian's character beginning in in verse 11 down through verse 25. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from flesh fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, and whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme; or unto governor's as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God. That with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free and yet not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Honor the king. Servants be subject to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froword. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your fault, ye take it patiently? But if when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in His steps. Who did no sin. Neither was guile found in His mouth. Who when He was reviled, reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Who His own self, bare are sins in His own body on the tree. And we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye are healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but now returned unto the Shepherd and Watcher of your souls. Fred, we have a few minutes left there, go ahead. You have thought?
Fred 23:37
Yeah, Well you know, when we, when we look at what's been happening in our country, and we see so many young people that are out in the streets, and they they have, they have rioted. They're out of control. I don't know, the background as far as what's causing that other than there was a fellow that was killed by a policeman Everybody saw the films and it was awful. There's there's no way to explain it away.
Arnie 24:06
There's no way to justify it either.
Fred 24:08
No way to justify it. But that doesn't give us people an excuse to violate the law and then burn people's businesses and destroy property and even even kill other people. So it's obvious that that there are a number of people in our society and young people at that, that that have not been taught these principles, these Bible principles that we have talked about in the passages that we have read. So we have to do a better job in our country because if if we don't, if the family unit continues to break down the way that it has over the years, our country is it is doomed, unlawfulness is going to get worse. You No, there will end up having to be more heavy handed from the federal government and from state governments to keep, you know, control. And it's just not going to work out well, it never works out well. When we don't do what God says we don't follow what He says what He says is good for us. And we would do well to learn that lesson. And we would do well to obey Him and, and fathers are the head of the family and they're the example. They ought to step up to that responsibility that God has given them and do the right thing.
Arnie 25:35
I think over the years, there have been men of every race, every ethnicity, every faith that have said one of the greatest problems that we have, is the crisis in the family, with with a lack of fathers and lack of, of leadership. We didn't have this problem in times when there was a father in In every home, and we need to return to, to those those times. So the heritage that you and I discussed this afternoon, come to come to eight things: A worthy reputation, reverence toward God, honorable sense of morality, unassailable personal integrity, unquenchable thirst for righteousness, strength of character, love of the truth, a virtuous example to emulate. And I wonder what will be the cost not just to our families, and our community or a nation, but the price we ourselves will bear. If we fail to embody and instill these values, which we owe our families. Did you have another thought Fred?
Fred 26:55
Yeah, well, you know, the con... there are always consequences. When we do things or when we fail to do things, and if fathers fail to implement these things, the consequences are not going to be good. The family suffers, the children suffer. And ultimately, our society suffers. And things will just get worse. They don't get better. When you don't do what God requires of you, things, things get worse. And ultimately, you know, we are accountable to God, and we will all face the judgment someday, and we will have to explain to him, why was it that you didn't listen to? And of course, there won't be any way to argue, to give excuses.
Arnie 27:44
That's the duty that God has assigned to us as fathers and grandfathers.
Fred 27:49
That's right and, and and it's a serious responsibility and we are to step up and we are to exercise those responsibilities and do what God has told us that we need to do and the family will be better for it when we do.
Arnie 28:04
And so will America. Yes. If you would like to communicate with Fred, you can send him an email at fgosnell@ftc-i.net. Or to me at agranke440718@twc.com. We certainly welcome your questions. We certainly welcome your thoughts. We hope that this has been a lesson that will be of value to you. We hope that you'll listen to us on the next Lord's day. And till then, we wish you Godspeed.