TLIC FAMILY. PROVERBS. AUGUST 3: RAGES.

THINK TOGETHER.

Do you remember how the story of the Prodigal Son ends (Luke 15:11-32)?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 19:3. When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

You might notice that today’s proverb is out of order. Yesterday we talked about Proverbs 19:4 and today we will talk about 19:3. Why? Because yesterday’s proverb illustrated the middle of the Prodigal Son story, but today’s proverb illustrates the end of the story.

When the Prodigal Son (the younger brother who took his father’s money and wasted it all) was done spending all of his money, he came to ruin (he had nothing left).

Solomon says that when a person wastes everything and comes to ruin, they will rage against the Lord. They will be angry at God. Does that seem fair? People will often blame God for things that are actually all their own fault.

What if the Prodigal Son said to God, “God, I can’t believe you put me here with these pigs, eating their food, sleeping in their mud, this is all your fault. Why don’t you love me?”

Do you ever act this way? Do you complain about your parents, or your teacher, or your friends for things that are actually your own fault? Or are you able to be honest about what you did and say sorry? That’s what the Prodigal Son did, isn’t it? He got up, went home, and asked for his Father’s forgiveness and help. He wasn’t angry at his dad or his God, he was honest and humble. He said to his dad, “I have sinned against Heaven and against you.”

Jesus lets us be honest and humble like this too. When we know that we are always forgiven and always loved, then we never have to cover up our sin with anger toward God. We can run to the God who never rages against us because the cross of Jesus already took all of God’s rage.

Because of Jesus we are always forgive and always loved.

With Jesus we can be honest and humble before God.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Listen to the song Before the Throne of God Above together.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you took Gods anger for me. Help keep my anger aimed at my sin and not at God. Amen.