A stitch in time saves Nine
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The 'stitch in time' is simply the prompt sewing up of a small hole or tear in a piece of material, so saving the need for more stitching at a later date when the hole has become larger.
Clearly the first users of this expression were referring to saving nine stitches. This also interprets that prompt action against little problems saves the burden of facing bigger problems in latter time.
The life of of Eli the priest and his children were a perfect example of getting rid of small problems before becoming a great deal.
They grew up in the house of God but their father was not conscious enough to notice when they were derailing from the ways of the Lord, their wrong doings were reported several times to their father but little did Eli did to curb their waywardness.
1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
They met their death at the war front while the ark of covenant became captured by the Philistines. Their father was not left out of the punishment, he died that same day. It was a national disaster for the nation of Israel. only if he had cautioned them and bring them back into the ways of God when they were still tender.
1 Samuel 4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
The child you fail to train well today will become your worst nightmare tomorrow.
The sin that destroyed the whole body always come in small package as temptation, but when it is not controlled and rebuked, it becomes a sin that drags one to hell.
David the king could not control his lustful affection with another man's wife, bathsheba, it developed to adultery which later makes him a murderer. He suffered for the consequences despite his plea to God.
2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
The sin you romance now, instead of confessing it at the appropriate time will become rooted in your life and will eventually bear fruits of pain, sorrow, and even death.
Train your body to flea from sin, youthful lust and the pride of life, so you can grow in the spirit as your father in heaven demands.
A wound in the leg not quickly taken care of can result to the leg being amputated. So also sin you fail to confess before God.
Train up your child now, so as not to regret latter
Train up your body against every forms of temptation, so as not to say "had I know"
Expose your sin now and have peace before your sin expose you and live in regret.
God bless you
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me all my sins in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, give me the grace to do the right thing at the right time in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.