Thought for the Day

Verse 6 - Society begins to crumble when the majority of its people regard material things as of greater value than character. When moral values are not taught, both children and society are negatively affected. Traits such as honesty, courage, respect, humility and kindness, bring order to society. In my generation, our homes, schools, and churches formed a network of mutual support. If a child had a behavior problem at school, the parents supported the teachers in dealing with it. If a child was guilty of bad conduct at home (such as smoking), the parents would notify the school and the church, who would reinforce the child with needed correction. Everyone worked together to raise good children.

Our present society is so divided that children can now get by with wrong without being corrected for it by anyone. Not only is there no longer communication between these entities, but many have become corrupt. Some schools actually undermine parental authority, teaching humanism and often siding with rebellious children against their parents. So many parents today are child abusers, it is hard to know which ones can be trusted. Wicked men in some of our churches have sexually abused the children in their care. Churches should be a haven from evil, but sexual abuse, greed, false doctrine and other evils have infiltrated them.

What does the Bible say about this? "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Verse 7 - A self-indulgent son will bring shame to his parents. Some children are so wicked that they even curse their own father and mother (Proverbs 30:11-14). It is always a blessing to see Christian young people who honor their parents. These young people stand out as lights in the midst of a today's perverse generation.

The youth of any nation are simply a reflection of that nation's adults. Today, the condition of our society is very similar to Noah's day. This is the time the Bible speaks of, when Jesus Christ will return to this earth to judge the wicked and the righteous (Genesis 6:11-13; Luke 17:26-30).