FORNICATION
In the Bible, adultery and fornication are not the same sin but are referred to in the Scriptures as two different acts (see Mark 7:21; see ADULTERY). Fornication is premarital sex, and young people are told to “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). The rest of the verse says, “But follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” We are to run from fornication (“flee”) and be around those who have a “pure heart.” We are to guard our thought life, which gives birth to fornication (see Mark 7:21). Wrong thoughts will come, but we are to overcome them with right thoughts (Romans 12:21; Philippians 4:6–8). It has been said, “We cannot stop a bird from flying over our head, but we can stop him from making a nest in our hair”
There are many young men who say “I love you” to their girlfriend but who do not “love” her enough to marry her when she becomes pregnant. Moms and dads need to have serious talks with their teenagers about this subject. (See MARRIAGE; see THOUGHT LIFE; see TEMPTATION).
FRIENDS
It has been said we will become like the books we read and the people we are around (see SEPARATION). Choose your friends wisely. Parents are naturally concerned about who their children are around, and they should be, and so is our heavenly Father. The Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The Bible tells us how to make friends: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24), and the last of this verse says, “And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” That would be Jesus. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:24–25). “Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not” (Proverbs 27:10). “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
FUNERALS
“Jesus wept” at the funeral of Lazarus (John 11:35). Man was made with tear ducts, and there is “a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Funerals are at least as much for the living as for the dead, and we need to comfort and give our sincere condolences to those who have had loved ones die, and this helps. (see DEATH; see COMFORT; see CREMATION)
In the Bible, adultery and fornication are not the same sin but are referred to in the Scriptures as two different acts (see Mark 7:21; see ADULTERY). Fornication is premarital sex, and young people are told to “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). The rest of the verse says, “But follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” We are to run from fornication (“flee”) and be around those who have a “pure heart.” We are to guard our thought life, which gives birth to fornication (see Mark 7:21). Wrong thoughts will come, but we are to overcome them with right thoughts (Romans 12:21; Philippians 4:6–8). It has been said, “We cannot stop a bird from flying over our head, but we can stop him from making a nest in our hair”
There are many young men who say “I love you” to their girlfriend but who do not “love” her enough to marry her when she becomes pregnant. Moms and dads need to have serious talks with their teenagers about this subject. (See MARRIAGE; see THOUGHT LIFE; see TEMPTATION).
FRIENDS
It has been said we will become like the books we read and the people we are around (see SEPARATION). Choose your friends wisely. Parents are naturally concerned about who their children are around, and they should be, and so is our heavenly Father. The Bible says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The Bible tells us how to make friends: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24), and the last of this verse says, “And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” That would be Jesus. “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:24–25). “Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not” (Proverbs 27:10). “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)
FUNERALS
“Jesus wept” at the funeral of Lazarus (John 11:35). Man was made with tear ducts, and there is “a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Funerals are at least as much for the living as for the dead, and we need to comfort and give our sincere condolences to those who have had loved ones die, and this helps. (see DEATH; see COMFORT; see CREMATION)