It is Real, It is Sensible, It is Helpful

By D. Dwight Davis

There is a lot of information that has been published in books, magazines, newspapers, online, and in studies. Much of this information claims to be "need to know" data. But, because of some readers' negative attitudes, disrespect for certain written material, and refusal to investigate or test what is written in certain publications, they characterize them as myths or information that cannot be believed. The author of the book you have in your hand or read online implore the reader to meditate and contemplate on the seven chapters and see if the knowledge shared and its primary source are real, sensible, and helpful. The author also encourages readers to refer to these seven subjects for reference and supplemental data when dealing with the identified family situations and societal circumstances. If these actions are taken, it is the author's prayer and belief that each reader will come to realize that the principal source of the knowledge found in this book is not a mythical individual but one that is spiritually alive and should be respected, believed, and followed. If not, why not?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098003333

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It is Real, It is Sensible, It is Helpful

D. Dwight Davis

Copyright © 2019 by D. Dwight Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Parents and Parenting

Chapter 2 Siblings

Chapter 3 Husband and Wife

Chapter 4 Friends and Friendships

Chapter 5 A Case for the Word of God

Chapter 6 Employers and Employees

Chapter 7 God Is No Respecter of Persons

There is a book that is shunned, not considered as factual and true, and purposefully and consistently disregarded by a huge number of people in the United States and the world. A very large number (probably around 60 percent) of people believe this book is a collection of myths, fables, and inconsistencies. The foregoing statements of the writer are based on conversations with individuals, observation of the lives of accountable people, and on media reports. The book the writer is referring to is the Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible consist of sixty-six books and is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of thirty-nine books, and the New Testament is made up of twenty-seven books. In the book you have started reading, you will find biblical references and quotations in each chapter. They are taken from the old King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. The Bible has teachings and examples of these teachings. For instance, if the reader reads a doctrine or teaching in the New Testament, he or she can turn to the Old Testament for an example. Furthermore, along with doctrine, the Bible informs the reader of the commandments of the LORD God, and implications for one to discern and have guidance for her or his spiritual well-being. Everything that one needs to know concerning life and godliness spiritually can be ascertained from the Holy Bible (2 Peter 1:2–3).

The book you have begun to read has endnotes at the end of each chapter. It is the writer’s prayer and hope that this book will inspire readers to read, meditate, comprehend, respect, and obey the word of God. By doing so he or she will see the realness, sensibleness and helpfulness that can be gained from God’s holy word.

Chapter 1 Parents and Parenting

We find the following words of scripture in the Holy Bible, in the book of 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 3 (King James Version): According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. In this first chapter of my book, we will find out that God’s holy word (also referred to as the Holy Bible, scripture, and God’s will) is relevant, practical, and pertinent for parents and parenting, by means of biblical commands, examples and implications. This chapter is divided into four parts.

Part 1

Jesus Christ is referred to many, many times in the first four books of the New Testament of the Holy Bible as the Son of God. [1] Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus spoke of God as being His father and the one Jesus listened to, obeyed, and tried to please. So when it comes to parenthood, God is the best example to study and imitate. Moreover, the following scriptures found in the book of Psalms of the Holy Bible can shed light on God’s (also referred to as Lord and Lord God) concern for the children of Israel. The scriptures are Psalm 53:2, Psalm 103:7, and Psalm 103:13. In these verses, the reader may see that God wants to know if the children of men understand Him and seek Him to learn about doing good. He made known His ways and acts to Moses (the one who led Israel out of Egyptian bondage) and to the children of Israel; nevertheless, as a father, He has compassion and concern for those who fear or reverence Him. What a parent God is! Don’t parents want their children to understand them and learn to do good? Don’t parents have compassion and concern for their children, especially for the ones who show them respect and reverence?

The answer to the preceding questions is a resounding yes! Like God the Father shows condolence and interest in His children, who show respect for Him, understand and learn from Him (Psalms 53:2 and 103:13), so should parents demonstrate these attributes toward their children, it is a from generation to generation matter. For instance, in the Old Testament, i.e., the first part of the Holy Bible, there was a king of the nation of Judah named Hezekiah. One can read about him in the book of Isaiah, chapter 33. Hezekiah was very sick and near death. He prayed to the LORD God to remember how he was as a man because he did not want to die. The LORD heard his prayer and sent word back to him through the prophet Isaiah. The prophet told King Hezekiah God’s reply to his prayer, which was that God would add fifteen years to his life. This king of Judah was so rejoiceful, he made the following statement in verse 19 of chapter 38: The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. [2] Parents who are Christians, do we share with our children and other young people the excitement of our relationship with the LORD God?

There is a passage in the New Testament, i.e., the second part of the Holy Bible, of a parent being praised for her children walking in truth. In the book of 2 John, chapter 1, verse 4 (2 John 1:4) we read, I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father (referring to God). [3] This mother had passed on to her children the truth of God’s word (ref. to the book of John 17:17). And it made the apostle John rejoice.

These two examples of parents passing on benefits—in this case, truth—to their children are continuing evidence that God’s word is real and sensible. In the case of Hezekiah and the lady in 2 John, we see how truth is sustained in a family from generation to generation. In our world today and in the past we read, hear, and observe, family wealth, relics, and other expensive and inexpensive heirlooms are handed down from generation to generation in a family.

The word of God is whole and impartial. One can read about the positives for obedience and the negatives for disobedience. An individual can read about blessings and curses. The reader just read about some benefits parents are able to pass on to their children and grandchildren. Now let us observe some curses on parents that can be experienced by their children.

One of many examples of a curse is found in the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapter 20, (where the Ten Commandments are recorded). If one would read verses 1 and 4–6, he/she will see that God did not want the Israelites to bow down to any graven image or serve it. If the Hebrews, or Israelites, acted against the command of God, He would inflict punishment on the children because of the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generation. A second example of a curse on parental offspring’s is found in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 9, verses 13–16 (Old Testament). The Hebrews—another identification for the children of Israel—had been taught by their fathers to forsake God’s law and to walk after the imagination of their hearts. This teaching did not please the LORD, and verses 15 and 16 express the consequences. These two examples of curses illustrate that, just as parents can pass on positive things to their children, children can reap adverse results because of the wrong actions and advice of parents.

Another principle about parenting is that parents should try very hard not to show partiality with their children. In Genesis (the first book of the Old Testament), chapter 25, we read in regards to twin sons named Esau and Jacob. Their parents’ names were Isaac and Rebekah. In chapters 27 and 28, the partiality of Rebekah and Isaac toward their sons surfaces. Rebekah loved Jacob more than Esau, and Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob.

There was a Hebrew custom during the time of Isaac and Rebekah in which the oldest son would be given a birthright by his father. (A birthright was the accruing advantages given to the eldest son.) [33] Esau was the eldest son because he came out of the womb before his twin brother Jacob; therefore, he would receive the birthright blessing from his father. However, an incident occurred in which this custom did not happen in the intended fashion.

When Isaac was old, his eyesight became dim, so severe, he could not see. He called Esau and sent him out in the field to kill a deer and make some savory food using venison. If Esau obeyed his father, his father would bless him with a birthright. Rebekah heard what Isaac had promised Esau. And because she loved Jacob more than Esau, she devised a plan to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob instead. It was a plan of deception, taking advantage of her husband’s very poor eyesight. (Read Genesis chapters 27 and 28.) The results were Jacob receiving the birthright instead of Esau, Esau hating Jacob and wanting to kill him, and Jacob fleeing to another province.

Another instance of parental partiality is found in Genesis, chapter 37, verses 1–4. The same Jacob written about in the preceding paragraph had twelve sons. One was named Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved the other eleven sons. (Doesn’t that sounds like his parents?) Anyway, because of his favoritism toward Joseph, he gave him a special coat. This gesture displeased Jacob’s other sons to the point of harboring hatred and not speaking to Joseph in a peaceful manner.

The foregoing examples of parental partiality caused hatred to develop between siblings and should teach parents today and in the future to try their very best not to show bias or favoritism with their children.

Wanting to love someone and be loved by someone is human nature. We all practice this whether it is husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, and even owner and their pet. It is only natural for parents to show love toward their children. The scriptures are just as informative and illustrative as any other publication on this topic. Let us look at three biblical selections.

My first selection is the mother of Moses. In the book of Exodus, chapter 2, verses 1–10, we find information about the birth and childhood growth of Moses. Moses’s parents were Israelites of the tribe of Levi. The Israelites, or the Hebrew nation, were in slavery in Egypt. They multiplied and grew in population at a rapid pace. The more the taskmasters afflicted them, the more they grew. This had to be the providence of God. But the growth of the Hebrew nation at this time caused the Egyptian king—the title is called pharaoh—to enact a law against the birth of any more Hebrew boys. The law stipulated that if any Israelite mother