Proverbs 20:7

Your family’s future depends on how you live today. The greatest influence you can have on your children is to live righteously. Children of godly men grow up with greater wisdom than peers, so they are blessed with natural success in measures of prosperity. But far beyond that, God Himself will supernaturally favor the children of godly men.

A good man lives with integrity; he does more than think or claim goodness (Pr 20:6). He will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. He lives by fear of God and faith in Christ, keeping all the commandments. God will send blessing and favor on his descendants. Here is a proverb with the promise of a wonderful blessing. Let the godly lay hold of it!

Understand the condition. This man is not today’s typical carnal Christian, who talks and acts one way on Sunday and with other believers, but lives another way during the week, while at home or in the world. Here is a just man, doing what is right and holy in the sight of God. He seeks the Lord with His whole heart. And he walks in this course every day.

Here is a man with a clean conscience, who guides all his affairs with the discretion of God’s word. He is blameless before God and men, by confessing his sins and making proper amends for them. His affections are set on heaven above, and he crucifies his sinful lusts with Christ. He trembles at the Word of God and humbly walks with his God.

He has no self-righteousness. He has no high opinion of himself or his family. He gladly condescends to men of low estate to love and serve them in any way he can. He knows he is vile; he rejoices in God’s forgiveness of his sins; and he forgives others very quickly and fully because of it. He examines his heart and rejects all bitterness or pride there.

He knows relationships with others are one of God’s measures (Mal 4:5-6; Luke 1:17). He carefully and fervently fulfills duties to rulers, employers, parents, pastor, wife and children – he knows these are exalted in the Bible. He is a benefactor and peacemaker, especially to the lowly, and even to enemies (Luke 6:27-36; 14:12-14; Rom 12:16).

Understand the promise. The holy God of heaven rewards good men with blessings upon their posterity. If those children or grandchildren sin, they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity, but the Lord will be more merciful than He would have been otherwise. If those children also live righteous lives, which is more likely given the example they have witnessed, the Lord will assist and bless them for the sake of their just father.

Consider David, the man after God’s own heart, who was perfect in God’s sight, except for his sins with Bathsheba (I Kgs 15:3-5). To honor David’s virtuous life, the Lord showed repeated mercy to his descendants (I Kgs 11:12,32,36; 15:4; II Kgs 8:19; II Chron 21:7). David described the just, “His seed is blessed” (Ps 37:26). Also, “What man is he that feareth the LORD?… His seed shall inherit the earth” (Ps 25:12-13).

Parent! Do you love your children? Your extended posterity? Forget a college education. Forget instruction and training. Grasp the priority of this proverb. Live humbly and walk justly before God, and He will bless your children because of your life. Job’s life of integrity even included sacrifices for his children after their birthday parties (Job 1:1-5).

Phinehas and Jonadab, examples of just men, were promised a godly seed (Num 25:11-13; Jer 35:18-19). Believer, are these promises only for others? Consider again. “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed” (Ps 112:1-2).

But it is just as true that any sin will find you out (Num 32:23). You cannot hide sins in your thoughts, your bedroom, or anywhere else (Eccl 10:20; Jer 23:23-24). His eyes see everything (Pr 15:3). Start with your heart and get rid of anything in it that does not match up with the highest standard of God’s word (Pr 4:23; Ps 139:23-24; Jas 4:9).

God is not obligated to reward you for living a godly life, especially rewards like blessing and favoring your descendants. You should live such a life anyway due to fear and love, as did Paul (II Cor 5:9-15). But God does make such promises, and He expects you to consider them (Eph 6:2-3). Be a just man today for the benefit of your family tomorrow.