Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Of those “kinder and gentler” humanists running around today, most are horrified to discover that Jesus actually affirmed the law that requires the death penalty for the son who curses his father or mother (Matt. 15:8). This is because they have predetermined their own elaborate system of morality where the honor of parents is of minor regard. Consequently, the modern humanists have destroyed marriage and the nuclear family. Their “nice” system of ethics is incapable of holding the family together, and they have their world where 70% of children are born without fathers, 70% of marriages end in divorce, and child abuse is ten times more prevalent in broken families. This is the world they construct for themselves.

But our lives are built upon God’s ethics and God’s perspectives of social systems. The fundamental social unit of the family cannot exist without the honor of parents, and this verse highlights the importance of this principle. How did the young Colorado killer, Matthew M., come to the point where he was so overwhelmed by darkness that he had to commit murder? He was educated at home by caring Christian parents. How could he have done this horrible act? The answer to this is simple. He turned against his parents. The man took to the Internet, publishing a public cursing of his mother and father months before he went on the killing spree. Some sins initiate a downward spiral, out of which it is almost impossible to extricate oneself. This seems to have been the case with Matthew.

Typically, youth will rebel against their parents first in their music choices. They turn to the music which their parents would find most abhorrent. This was the case for young Matthew, who preferred the demon-inspired music of Marilyn Manson, who was himself raised by Christian parents and sent to a Christian school in his early years. When men curse their fathers and mothers, especially those taught biblically, God will use these men to destroy themselves and others around them. Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. The theme of this verse is seen worked out in many public examples in the present age. When men cease to fear God, they, of course, will not fear their parents. But there is a God in the heavens, and He will not be mocked. Much of the murder, demonism, and destruction around us is clearly linked to the gross violation of the fifth commandment. But for us, we will trust and pray that our children will always fear the true and living God, that there will not be a single young man in our community who exemplifies the horrific rebellion described in this verse.

Proverbs 20:21

An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

This proverb puts the kabosh on the get-rich-quick schemes. Anytime some slick salesman tries to convince you of a get-rich-quick scheme, you should suspect the entire concept. This principle is a constant normative for us. Even in our investments, we should always prefer the tortoise to the hare, as featured in the famous fable. Of course, there are times when we must make calculated risks with our investment capital. But if the intent is to get rich quick, and then we put all of our savings into a risky investment to accomplish that, we are clearly violating this important principle. Generally, it would be better to risk only a portion of the portfolio while being careful with the rest of it.

Men have made millions of dollars writing books on “how to be successful in business” or “how to make a million dollars.” By now, most of us have figured out that the best way to get rich quick is… to write a book on how to get rich quick! There are thousands of books on the market written in this vein. What would happen if an author tried to tell the truth? If you were to open his book on gaining material wealth, you would read one simple line, “Work really hard for a long time, and trust in God from Whom all blessings flow!” It is doubtful such a book would sell more than four or five copies.

Let us also be careful not to cater to the get-rich-quick impulse in others, as we work with them in the marketplace. Otherwise, those we attract into our organizations will lack the character necessary to persevere and succeed. These hollow promises may create a little excitement on the front end of some marketing scheme, but it won’t be long before the whole operation collapses like a house of cards.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. What is one of the most foul and heinous violations of the fifth commandment—“honor thy father and thy mother”? How do many young people begin to manifest rebellion in their teen years against their own parents?

2. What is an inappropriate way to gain wealth? What is the biblically appropriate path to wealth? Should we seek after wealth? Why or why not?