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Principles to be Taught Youth(Part 4)

Wayne Galloway
12/12/21 - Sunday Evening Worship

Series: Lessons from Proverbs

Proverbs Lesson 4

Principles to be Taught Youth

1. We have been searching Proverbs for principles to be taught youth.
2. We con)nue that search in this lesson with special focus on the principle of self-control. 3. Considera)on will be given to three dis)nct areas of self-control: speech, anger, sexuality.

Discussion:
I. We need to teach self-control in the area of speech (21:23).

A. Advantages.
1. It guards us from troubles (21:23).
2. Results in good rather than violence (13:2).
3. Preserves life rather than producing ruin (13:3).

B. We need to learn truthfulness.
1. “He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit” (12:17). Do not

use your tongue to gain the upper hand.
2. “Lay aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are

members one of another” (Eph. 4:25).
C. We need to learn to communicate so there is healing rather than destruc)on.

1. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (12:18).

2. Think of the effect that your words are going to have on others. On yourself.
a. What you say may come back to haunt you.
b. While a soW answer turns away wrath a harsh word s)rs up anger and you may

well be the recipient of it. Do not say destruc)ve things unless you are prepared

to be destroyed.
c. Your mo)ve should be higher than this. We Chris)ans are in the business of

communica)ng grace, kindness, love, not biYerness and hatred.
d. “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is

good for edifica)on according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemp)on. Let all biYerness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:29-32).

e. Parents are these the principles you are teaching your children when they hear you speak about individuals in your associa)on, in the church? I can tell how parents talk about me by my rela)onship to their children. If the parents are talking nega)vely or not at all their children are distant and suspicious. If the

parents are talking posi)vely their children are open, invi)ng, trus)ng. Let’s conduct a liYle experiment. I am going to bring the mic around and ask your

children what their parents think about the preacher. Will you be embarrassed by their responses? Prov. 23:16 says, a father’s innermost being will rejoice when his child speaks what is right. Will you rejoice in your children’s responses?

3. Children need to learn to communicate blessing, not cursing (James 3:8-10). What we are doing is what we are teaching them.

II. We need to teach our children to control their anger (14:17).

A. Being slow to anger indicates understanding, quickness to anger exalts folly (14:29).
B. “A hot-tempered man s)rs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute” (15:18).
C. “He who is slow to anger is beYer than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he

who captures a city” (16:32).
D. “A man’s discre)on makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a

transgression” (19:11).
E. How to do this? We all get angry.

a. We can control what we think. Con)nually think nega)vely and anger builds up. Rethink. Spin it in a different direc)on.

b. Allow )me to help diminish the emo)on.
c. Be careful who you talk to they can help you rethink or to help you intensify nega)ve

thoughts.
d. Discuss the feeling. e. Forgive wrongs.
f. Give a blessing.

III. We need to teach our children to control their sexuality. It is not just about saying “NO.” We need to teach them to say “Yes” to sexual integrity.

A. The way of wisdom delivers by teaching about marriage as a covenant of God (2:10-20). Cf. Heb. 13:4.

B. Be aware of the mechanisms of adultery—smooth speech, lips that drip honey, but the ends is death (5:3-23).
1. Young ladies, there are predatory men out there. They are looking for those they can

take advantage of.
2. Young men, there are predatory women out there. They are looking for those they

can take advantage of.
3. Desire for her beauty, capture you with her eyelids (6:23-35).
4. 7:4-27; 9:13-18.
5. There are foolish adults that will advise you in foolish ways. Do not listen to them!

C. Be wise in your selec)on of a marriage partner.
1. Keep away from the adulteress, the foreigner who flaYers with her words (7:5).
2. Find someone who is wise in the ways of the Lord.
3. Find someone like the woman of Prov. 31:10ff.
4. Find someone who is loyal to the Lord. “Not many like that.” Right! Where will you

look for someone like that? Place yourself in the environment to find what you are looking for. See Gen. 24. Cf. 26:24-25. “If you marry a child of the devil you will have trouble with your father-in-law the rest of your life.”

Conclusion:

1. Principles to live by. Principles of happiness. Principles of success.
2. Cling to them without excep)on. Do not reason with yourself, “Just this once I will give in to break this principle.”
3. Control your speech. Control your anger. Control your sexuality.