The Ladies’ Corner

Ladies meetings: People’s Baptist Church, Kelowna, BC

Teacher: Mrs. Wendy Madle

February 2001

 

 

Women of The Bible:

Naomi
The Woman Who Left Full

And Returned Empty

 

All Bible quotations are from the  King James Version 1611

 

The book of Ruth opens with the sorrowful story of a Hebrew family dwelling in Bethlehem-Judah. Famine plagues the land which prompts Elimelech to take his family from the land of bread to “sojourn in the country of Moab…” Because Elimelech stepped out from under God’s will, his family suffered the consequences of his decision. Hence, the very words of Naomi recorded in Scripture tells us the affliction that came upon this family- 

Ruth 1:21a

“I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty” 

What was it that Naomi lost while living outside of the will of God?

What lessons can be gleaned through the life of Naomi?

I. What Naomi Lost

A. Her Husband
“And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.” Ruth 1:3

B. She Lost Her Children
Ruth 1:5

“And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.” 

C. She Lost Her Witness or Testimony
Ruth 1:8-13 

8 “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 
9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.”

D. She Lost The Favour of God
Ruth 1:13b

“…for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.” 

E. She Lost Her Beauty
Ruth 1:19

“So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?”

F. She Lost Her Joy
Ruth 1:20

“And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” 

G. She Lost The Fullness of God
Ruth 1:21

“I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?” 

 

*Other Bible examples of families being destroyed because of disobedience:

1. Lot
Genesis 19:1-38 

1 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 
10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 
11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 
21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 
24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 
27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 
28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. 
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 
33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 
35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 
37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 
38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”

2. Korah
Numbers 16:1-50 

1 “Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 
3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 
6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 
7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. 
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 
9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 
10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 
11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? 
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 
13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 
14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 
17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 
18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. 
20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 
25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 
26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 
29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 
35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. 
36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. 
38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 
39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 
40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. 
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 
42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 
43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 
44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. 
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. 
47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 
48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 
49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 
50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.”

3. Achan
Joshua 7:1-26

1 “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. 
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 
6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! 
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! 
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? 
10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 
13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. 
14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man. 
15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. 
16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: 
17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: 
18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 
19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. 
20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. 
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 
23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 
24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”

II. Lessons Learned

A. Staying in God’s will brings Prosperity for you, your family, and others.
Genesis 39:3-5 

3 “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.”

Deuteronomy 29:9
“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”

1 Chronicles 22:13

“Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.” 

Psalm 1:3

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” 

B. Living in God’s will enables your Light to shine.
Matthew 5:13-16 

13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Acts 13:47

“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” 

Ephesians 5:8

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Philippians 2:15

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” 

C. Trusting in God’s will grants you the Favour of God
Proverbs 3:1-6 

1 “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Genesis 6:8-9 

8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Genesis 39:21-23 

21 “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

1 Samuel 2:26 

“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” 

1 Samuel 3:18-21 

18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 
19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Luke 1:30

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” 

D. Doing God’s will gives you Joy.
John 13:17

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” 

Psalm 16:11

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 

Psalm 40:8

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” 

Psalm 100:2

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” 

Isaiah 51:11

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. “ 

 Isaiah 35:10

“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

E. Yielding to God’s will brings you the Fulness of God
Ephesians 3:19
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” 

Ephesians 5:18
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” 

1. Stephen
Acts 7:54-55 

54 “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,”

2. Barnabas
Acts 11:22-24 

22 “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

3. Saul (Paul)
Acts 13:9
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,”

 

“I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty…” 
Ruth 1:21a 

 

Naomi suffered God’s chastisement,

but she returned to regain God’s best. 

 

************* 

“The will of God will never lead us
where the grace of God is inadequate to keep us.”

“Better to shun the bait than to struggle in the snare”

Dryden

************* 

Personal notes and other points brought up during lesson:

1. C. Naomi was so backslidden she tries to send her daughters-in-law back to an idolatrous nation

E. Isaiah 3:9a, Psalm 149:4, 1Peter 3:3-6, Proverbs 21:29 (Consequence of sin – hardeneth his face…)

F. Fountain can’t give out sweet and bitter water.

G. “Quench not the Spirit…” 1Thes 5:19

The Lord will bless for one righteous in the house, so it indicates she was part of the instigation process – see point II, Gen 39:5)

Prosperity: Matthew 6:33, promise: food, rainment, family, friends

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

II. B. Matthew 5:13-16 How does your light shine? Is your light ineffective because of the way you live? How bright our light shines depends on us!

When bringing the offering for the tabernacle, God told Moses not to accept the people’s offering unless it was given willingly.

Children – Pray openly with your children – for sins they need help with, keep it before them, so they know it’s wrong.