Proverbs 4:1–2 (NKJV) — 1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.

The biblical ideal sees the father as being engaged in his children’s education. Throughout both testaments, education was home-centered. While ancient Israel did develop elementary schools for boys, these schools were conducted often in the synagogues and depended upon the fathers to supply their student body and their financial support. The teachers actually served the homes; the school was an extension of the values and beliefs taught in the homes. Decline of educational quality begins when the influence of the home and church is minimized.

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I spent much of last week proofreading the galleys for my upcoming book titled The Holy Spirit: A Commentary. I’m pleased with how it is turning out. The book is intended to develop an apostolic pneumatology. It exceeds 300 pages and deals with most biblical references to the Spirit from Genesis through Revelation.

I appreciate the diligence of Everett Gossard, book editor for the Division of Publications for the United Pentecostal Church International. His work has improved the manuscript, which will be published by WAP Academic, a division of Word Aflame Press. The plan is for the book to be published before our general conference this year.

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Proverbs 3:35 (NKJV) — 35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

We should not look at others and declare their “fortunes” or “misfortunes” to be the result of the mythical Lady Luck. Ultimately, it will be the wise who receive glory, while fools will be shamed.

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Proverbs 3:34 (NKJV) — 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

God deals with people on the basis of the way they respond to Him. The greatest secret to being used by God is to be humble; the greatest hindrance to being blessed and used by God is pride.

Both James and Peter quoted this verse.

James 4:6 (NKJV) — 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV) — 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

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Proverbs 3:33 (NKJV) — 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.

The blessings and curses related to the law of Moses are specified in Deuteronomy 28. Those who are just do not need to worry about someone putting a curse on their home. It is impossible for Satan to curse what God has blessed, as illustrated in the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24).

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Proverbs 3:32 (NKJV) — 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.

God’s response to the perverse and the righteous. The word translated “perverse” refers to going the wrong way, turning aside, departing. The word translated “abomination” means detestable. God detests perversity, but He shares His secrets with those who are upright.

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Proverbs 3:31 (NKJV) — 31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;

Don’t follow the example of those who oppress others. When we hear of how others have profited by taking advantage of people, we may be tempted to do the same, but we must resist this temptation. For example, a man may boast that he made extra profit by substituting inferior, cheap materials for the quality he agreed to install. Another may “pull a fast one” under the theory that what people don’t know won’t hurt them. But the Lord feels very keenly about the oppression of people.

Psalm 62:10 (NKJV) — 10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.

James 5:1–6 (NKJV) — 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

He desires for everyone to live by the Golden Rule.

Matthew 7:12 (NKJV) — 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

He gave the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate how we are to treat others.

Luke 10:25–37 (NKJV) — 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Proverbs 3:30 (NKJV) — 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

We should not provoke a quarrel or cause strife. Moreover, it is foolish and dangerous to involve ourselves in strife that has nothing to do with us.

Psalm 15:3 (NKJV) — 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

Matthew 5:22 (NKJV) — 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

James 5:9 (NKJV) — 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

Not infrequently, third parties will think, If I will step into this situation, I can resolve it. But just as frequently, the third party will discover that he incurs the wrath of the two who are in disagreement. His involvement unites the two who were formerly antagonists.

Proverbs 26:17 (NKJV) — 17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

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Proverbs 3:29 (NKJV) — 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.

Neighbors must support and protect one another. A person who protects and helps his neighbor will find ultimately that he is strengthening his own position, but someone who devises evil against his neighbor will find he is hurting himself.

Proverbs 26:27 (NKJV) — 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

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Proverbs 3:28 (NKJV) — 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

Don’t postpone neighborly help. Societies are strengthened when neighbors feel a strong obligation to one another. Instead of merely decrying the general decay of neighorliness, we should be willing to take steps to correct that problem with those who live around us.

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV) — 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

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