The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Early

  • Seek God Early

    The most important thing a human being can do is to seek after God. God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son to die upon the cross – just so we could have a relationship with Him! All we must do is to love Him enough to seek after Him. (Read Romans 10:8-13 to see what to do when you find Him.) Proverbs 8:17 tells us that God loves those who love Him. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”(Proverbs 8:17). It also says that those who seek him early will find Him. But did you notice the word “early” in that verse? The word “early” means be up early at any task with the implication of earnestness and by extension to search for painstakingly. One must earnestly seek God early. The best time is to seek God first thing each morning. Not only will you not run out of time during the day to spend with Him, but the course of your day will be better set by seeking Him early.

    It is not only important to seek God early in each day, but early in one’s life. The earlier a child (or even a young person) begins to seek after God, the easier it will be for them to find Him. The older a person gets, the less likely they will find it important enough to seek after God. There are many excuses; too many to even try to list. But the longer one waits in their life, the less likely they will even try to seek earnestly after God.

    But there is so much more than just this one verse. What happens when one loves God and chooses to seek Him early – finding Him? Read what God says in the verses that follow that one: “18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Proverbs 8:18-21). God has all of the riches, righteousness, and fruit (reward) better than gold or silver. God leads into the paths of righteousness, causing those that love Him to inherit substance. Our treasures will be filled by God, Himself! What better life could one hope to have?

    But it all begins with loving God enough to seek after him diligently.

    Things in this life should never keep us from seeking God or the things of God.

    Have you sought after God?

  • Lesson 7 (Lesson 46): Proverbs 1-9: Wisdom is to be Found Early

    Key Verse

    “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”  Proverbs 8:17

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they have a time when they read their Bible each day.  When do they do it? (i.e.: morning, afternoon, evening, etc.).  For those who have a quiet time other than the morning, ask if things have ever come up to keep them from having that quiet time with the Lord (i.e.: homework, chores, ran out of time, TV, etc.).  Encourage them to make it a priority to seek God not only early in the day, but early in life.  He must become important to us – now.

    Summary:  We have been learning the importance of God’s Word.  We found it is good to praise God, and we have seen God does bestow blessings upon those who belong to Him.  Now we must learn the importance of practicing the practical portions of the right way to live a life pleasing to God – and that we must begin to live that way early in life.

    Proverbs, the third Personal book, is known as a great source of wisdom. We will take 3 lessons to overview the book of Proverbs.  The wisest man, Solomon (whose wisdom was a gift from God – I Kings 3:12), wrote many of these words.  We will see that Solomon often addressed his son personally.  The key to Proverbs can be found in Proverbs 1:7-8:  “7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:”  Many of the words of wisdom found in Proverbs were written from a loving father as a warning to his only son.  In this light, we can count these words as being very important.

    These words of wisdom were recorded to help us live our daily lives wisely, too.  Often it compares the “wise” with the “fool.”  The precepts within are very practical.  Much good will come to those who not only memorize these pearls of wisdom, but for those who apply these truths to their lives.  For Christians, these words are more than practical, they are essential.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Encourage your students to receive instruction from their parents as they teach them the importance of God’s Word.  Help them see the significance of making God’s Word more important than anything this world offers allowing it to guide our life.  Remind them that God wants us to seek Him early in the day – as well as early in life.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 46 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 46 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I found a picture of a lock that was a heart.  It had a second heart with a keyhole that glued as a flap to the front of the heart lock.  I put the verse Proverbs 4:23 inside of the lock.  We then colored it.  Help them understand the verse.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.