8 Verses from Proverbs to Teach Your Children

Have you ever experienced information overload?

I'm a planner by nature.  If my family is taking a trip to a location we haven't visited before, I want to check out everything the area has to offer - all the hotels, restaurants, and the sights we might want to see.  But it doesn't take long until I just feel overwhelmed with ALL the information.

There are so many websites to check out - I could get lost in the internet for days.  How do I know which reviews are reliable?  Is that tourist attraction really worth our time?  Is that the best hotel rate I'm going to find?

Here's my point.  Sometimes we're so overwhelmed with information that we don't know where to start.

I believe that as Christian moms, we want to raise wise children.  This doesn't necessarily involve book smarts; rather, we want them to make good decisions and insightful choices.  I'm glad to know that we don't have to search all around to find the best ways to teach our children about wisdom.

The book of Proverbs gives us advice for every area of life, from relationships to money to how to conduct business to generosity and self-control.

Below I listed eight verses from Proverbs, each containing a basic principle you can teach to your children.  They're all fairly short, short enough that you could even memorize them together as a family after you discuss them.  (I've included a free printable of these verses at the bottom of this post.)

1.  He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. ~Proverbs 13:20  This boils down to choose your friends wisely.  This is important when our children are young, but even more so as they hit the middle school and high school years.  We become like those we spend our time with.

2.  Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. ~Proverbs 12:22  Tell the truth always, even when it's hard - and it will be sometimes, even as adults.

3.  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ~Proverbs 16:32  Learning to control your temper takes hard work - and the help of the Holy Spirit.  The second part of this proverb deals with any area of self control.  Handling your emotions wisely is more valuable than being physically strong.

4.  The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. ~Proverbs 13:4  In other words, the lazy man wants lots of things, but has nothing, while the diligent person will be made rich.  Work hard, be thorough, and you will be rewarded.  Gaining wealth isn't in and of itself a worthy life goal, but it's typically a byproduct of hard work and perseverance.

5.  He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. ~Proverbs 22:9  Bountiful here means "generous."  When you work hard - as we talked about above - you will be able to be generous, which brings further blessings on your life.

6.  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. ~Proverbs 22:1  Your reputation is important.  As Benjamin Franklin said, "It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it."

7.  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ~Proverbs 19:20  Listen to those who are older and wiser than you, and you will learn much.

8.  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. ~Proverbs 21:23  How much trouble we would all avoid if we could control what we say!  While it will take more than a lifetime to work on this, it's good to help our kids begin to understand the importance of the words they use.  Those words can wound or heal, hurt or help.

When our kids were younger, I loved having stories that illustrated the principles in Proverbs.  I haven't mentioned them in a while, but Wisdom and the Millers and Those Kids in Proverbsville were books of short stories that we enjoyed reading together.

I created a free printable of these eight Proverbs if you'd like to have an easy way to reference it.

Click here to access the printable.

Is there another verse from Proverbs that you would add to this list?

Related Posts:
10 Bible Verses for Little Ones
10 Bible Verses for Teens to Memorize
10 Ways to Help Your Child Memorize Scripture

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