I have been thinking about Proverbs 10:17, because I will be speaking on it at one of the meetings of our youth group next month. I always enjoy speaking to the youth - maybe because I teach high school, and feel a natural affinity for them.
Anyhow, the verse is "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but he who ignores instruction leads others astray." There is a lot to say here.
First, we are to be people who heed discipline. But it is more than just listening to someone who is correcting or rebuking us. It is also about living a disciplined life in general. If we do that, we are not only on the way to life, we are setting a good example. If we ignore instruction, we are not only on the wrong path, we are leading others astray. We never know when someone is watching us as a role model.
So this is not just about living in a godly way. It is about standing up for the godly way, living it "out loud," as Steven Curtis Chapman says. This is a really important message for high school students to hear, because to many of them standing out is a bad thing.
I hope I can help to bring the word that convinces them otherwise. Our society is starved for people who will stand and live right.
Sue,
ReplyDeleteAs a pastor who works with youth alot, I can safely say that you are on the right track with your comments. Proverbs is so teen-friendly, that is, so relevant to where they are at. I love the "my son" speeches in the first 7 chapters especially.
Last night in youth group we had some "direct counselling" with some of the youth that are really very apathetic towards the truth that they have been given. Many have grown up coming to church, sat through sunday school, even attending christian schools. But it must be personal. Instruction recieved and not heeded is a fertile breeding ground for apathy!
Mike