#6 Acting Right with Proverbs 20:11

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

This verse speaks of children, but it is a truth that we can apply to all of our lives. Now this summer, when the kids were learning what this verse meant, I applied it to specific situations that they would understand. So consider some of the examples from childhood.

First we discussed what conduct meant. Well not many of them knew until I told them that they got a conduct grade on their report cards each six weeks. They finally realized what that meant. So I told them that people, especially their teachers, knew how they acted based on their conduct. If they behaved and listened in class, people saw them with good conduct, and if they misbehaved, then teachers were always warned of who the trouble makers were.

Also, we had some discipline problems this summer, mainly with fighting and noise. Also our classroom was right above the preschool department (where people enter the daycare). I told them that those downstairs could hear us when we were loud (whether they are misbehaving or I am yelling trying to get their attention). I told them that the parents that came in would view them as bad misbehaving children just by hearing them act up. But if they heard low voices from upstairs they would think that the kids were behaving well and having fun.

In both instances, the children were judged based on the way that they acted. And we are judged on the same basis. When we are out in public, people are watching. Think of people that you may have judged. You base your judgements on the way that they have acted. You determine whether they are a "good" person or not. So just like we sometimes judge others, they do the same to us.

Now as Christians, we should be displaying good conduct at all times. People are watching, and many times they are waiting for us to mess up. So no matter where you are, work, school, out in public, make sure that you are acting according to God's Word. Do not let your witness suffer because you choose to disobey God's commands. It is easy to ruin and lose a reputation. It is much harder to gain respect back.

Matt