Lesson 277 - Junior
Memory Verse
"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments” (Proverbs 3:1).
Notes
No Happiness with Wealth
King Solomon learned by experience what makes people happy -– and it was nothing that this world could give. He lived in a beautiful palace, in the midst of the finest treasures of the world. His ships were continually sailing into foreign waters to find something new and precious to bring to him. Servants hurried hither and yon to obey his every command; and his armies were always ready to capture an entire city if he so desired.
King Solomon was married to a princess from Egypt, which gave him favour with Egypt's king. He had everything that most people work hard to get, things that they yearn and strive for; yet with all that, he said: "All is vanity.” He never found happiness in the things of this world.
Happiness in Wisdom
If acquiring wealth, honour, and fame does not bring happiness, what does? The wisdom of God! And do you know how we get that wisdom? We do not learn it at school from our textbooks. Solomon learned the truth, and he said: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” So we see that the very beginning of our happiness must be to love Jesus so much that we will live to please Him, and fear lest we displease Him.
Solomon said: "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.” He was repeating the message that God had given to Moses hundreds of years before about the Law: "Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” [DEU:6:7]). The Word of God prayerfully planted in the heart of a child will never be forgotten. No amount of Bible training in later life will make up for the neglect of teaching a child when he is young.
The Word in the Heart
Some people study hard to learn the commandments of God. They memorize many verses of Scripture, and go through the form of keeping God's law. But Solomon realized it would take more than that to make a person happy. He said, "Let thine heart keep my commandments.” When we are truly born again, we have the commandments of God in our heart. Our nature is changed, and we do the will of God because we love Him. Then our happiness begins.
Walking Safely
When we are saved, a new life begins within us. We feel the peace of God, and His love fills our being. The joy of the Lord strengthens us and gives us health. But we have to go on living in the world, and trials come to us. Our way is not always easy. Then we realize more than ever before how much the love of God means to us. "Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
We often hear people talk about the sleepless nights they spent when they were sinners. They were troubled because of their misdeeds, and they imagined that the whole world was against them, and that nobody cared. But when Jesus came into their heart, the burden was gone. They could sleep peacefully and enjoy their rest. God had taught them that He cared for them, and He has given His beloved sleep.
Many Christian servicemen proved in time of battle that the Lord gives His children rest. Under the strain of constant watch for the enemy, and the tension of approaching death, they could relax and rest in the knowledge that the angel of the Lord was near to take care of them.
If you are afraid, tell Jesus. Ask Him to take away the fear. If you are a Christian, His angels are watching over you and will keep you safe.
Our Understanding
More good advice that Solomon gave was, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” We often want things to go the way we plan, and are disappointed when they do not. The Lord knows better than we do what is good for us, and He wants us to trust His wisdom. He understands the sorrows that may come to us, and "like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him” [PS:103:13]). The happy man is the one who knows that God is interested in everything he does, and he is content to let the Lord direct his steps.
We are promised good health if we obey the will of God and do not insist upon having our own way. A long and happy life is the heritage of the consecrated man and woman. God commanded children to obey their parents, to which was added: "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” [EPH:6:3]).
"In all thy ways acknowledge him.” In everything we do we should consider the will of God. Some may think that they do not want to bother the Lord with little problems – that they are too small for the Lord to notice. But God has said that in all our ways we are to take His will into consideration, and He will bless.
Chastening
In order to be taught wisdom, we sometimes must be corrected or reproved. We may have done the wrong thing through ignorance or neglect, and the Lord has to tell us about it; and if necessary, punish us. That correction will make us wiser, if we take it. "Whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
When the Apostle Paul was writing to a new congregation of Hebrew Christians, he quoted this verse. There were many things they needed to learn, but they chafed under Paul's rebukes. He tried to show them that they were being chastened because God loved them.
While they are being punished, it is hard for children to realize that their parents love them; but correction is what will make good children of whom the parents will not be ashamed.
Mercy
We enjoy the mercy and love of God. He wants us to show mercy and love to others. One way we can do that is to visit the sick and perhaps take them some flowers, or make their bed for them, or give them something to eat.
Jesus once told His disciples that when the righteous will come before Him in the judgment He will say to them: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” [MAT:25:34-36]).
Most of the righteous people who will stand before Jesus will never have seen Him, and they will wonder when thy could have given Him a drink of water, or something to eat. Then He will say to them: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” [MAT:25:40]). They will have shown mercy to those in trouble. So let us try to help others in the name of Jesus, doing it to them as though we were doing it to Jesus.
Helping others gives us a happy feeling. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive” [ACT:20:35]). He said, too, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” [LUK:6:38]). Many people have found that the more they give to others the more they have for themselves.
The Firstfruits
We are told to have mercy upon our fellow men, but we are also commanded to honour the Lord with the "firstfruits” of our substance. That means that we are to pay tithes. One tenth of all we earn belongs to God, and we must not spend it on ourselves. God has promised a blessing upon those who obey. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it” [MAL:3:10]). We shall receive spiritual blessings and also physical blessings. "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
God promised the Israelites when they went into Canaan that there would be rain when they planted their crops, and again when it was time for them to ripen. But He said it would never rain during harvest time to destroy anything – if they obeyed His commandments. Everything would be just right if the Israelites obeyed God; but they did not, so they never enjoyed those perfect conditions.
Evildoers Cut Off
"Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.” It may sometimes seem that the wicked get along better in this world than the Christians, but David said: "Evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” [PS:37:9]). The true Christians will rule with Jesus here on this earth for a thousand years when He comes again.
Communion with the Lord
The secret of the Lord is with the righteous. They enjoy a close communion with Him, which the people of the world know nothing about. He tells them of His love, and that He wants them to live with Him in His glory. Through the Bible we learn His precious promises; and if we obey His commandments, those promises apply to us. "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” [PS:25:14]).
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”
Questions
1. In what things did Solomon try to find happiness?
2. What did Solomon say about the things of the world?
3. What is the beginning of wisdom?
4. Where are we to have the law of God?
5. In how many ways should we acknowledge God?
6. What does the Lord do to His children who make mistakes? Why?
7. Why do parents punish their children?
8. Give examples of showing mercy.
9. What are the firstfruits?
10. What will happen to the evildoers?