I read Proverbs 11 in my time alone with God today.  Verses 29 & 30 really caught my attention:  ²⁹ Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind.  A fool will be a servant to the wise.  ³⁰ A good person gives life to others;  the wise person teaches others how to live.  (Prov. 11:29-30 NCV)

The great preacher and theologian Dr. Henry Ironside said that bringing trouble on your family (vs. 29) means:  “…to so walk as to leave an evil example for those coming after to follow.”   In spite of the fact that most people don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in your home, your children do and they are affected by your example whether good or bad.   Attitudes and actions are not missed by little eyes (or big eyes for that matter) – so what do your children see behind closed doors?   To live in any way that brings evil upon your family is to be marked as a fool.  If your example isn’t what it should be, the good news is that you can repent and change your direction today!   You can choose wisdom and in doing so become like the person in verse 30.

I love the 2nd part of verse 30:  “the wise person teaches others how to live.”  What a great legacy wise people leave.  When you and I exhibit wisdom, we have the opportunity to teach others how to live  (how to live God’s way).  Again, we don’t walk in perfection, but in direction.  So is the direction of your life toward God – or are you living life your way? 

Even though my kids are pretty much grown, I still impact them by the way I live my life.  In addition to this, I impact many others who are watching me even when I don’t know it.  It’s a challenge and a joy to know that we can be used to move people toward wisdom.  It’s a scary thing to realize we can also be used to encourage people to be fools.

Let’s bring blessing on our families by choosing to live life God’s way – with wisdom – publicly and behind closed doors.