DO WHAT I SAY...

Proverbs 1: 8 – 19
There was a guy with an advertising company who came up with an idea as to how to advertise his business. He made life size cardboard cut outs of children, and was able to place them in different places all around town. He noticed that when he placed them close to the road, drivers would automatically slow down thinking that they were real kids. So, the advertising guy now sells cardboard cut out children to parents who live in areas where people speed as a way of protecting their kids from reckless drivers.
As parents, we have a tendency to act to protect our kids, by either showing them what to do in certain situations, or telling them what they are to do when we aren't around to help. We will try anything to help protect our kids.
Solomon, history's wisest man, wrote down sayings for his children and called them proverbs.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
My father was never as elegant as this, he would say things like; “Just do what I tell you.” “Okay?” he would also try to confuse me with the old do as I say, not as I do thing.
Parents work at protecting their children from physical danger. But there are other dangers as well. Solomon, the writer of Proverbs 1, was concerned about the people who would pose spiritual danger to his son. He warned him about those who would entice him to do evil and told him,
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
“Do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil”
15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
We need to protect our children by teaching them God’s Word and training them to avoid evil influences. Busy streets are hazardous for our children, but the enticement of taking an evil path is far more dangerous.

Tomorrow’s world will be shaped by what we teach our children today.