Family Life:

In Proverbs & The Bible As A Whole

I’ve recently taught from Proverbs about family life.

In that class, I highlighted various statements in Proverbs about good men, good women, obedient children, the need for discipline and love and mentioned respect for elderly family members. I used statements from Proverbs I sometimes call “God’s text messages” specific to marriage, parenting and family life.

Near the end of the study I made this point: In your application of the Bible in your family, don’t limit yourself to passages that deal specifically with family life!

Here’s what I mean. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of passages in the Bible not specific to family life – but demand our attention and application.

There are passages before and after Proverbs and in Proverbs – about temperament, attitude, self-control, justice, mercy, prayer, worship and so many other aspects of relationship with God through Christ – and all of those need faithful application in the home.

I’ve told married couples – put the Sermon on the Mount in your marriage; teach your children from the epistles; be certain there is good attention to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

God’s wisdom for families is not limited to the specific passages that deal with marriage and parenting. He wants us to be acquainted with His total revelation to us.

Put the whole Word of God in your whole life. The history, the poetic passages, the Proverbs, the gospels, the epistles. It is all meant to take us to God, take our families to good living and take each of us to heaven.

Psalm 119:129-131

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.