Cautiousness Biblical Character Curriculum

Cautiousness in Scripture • God waits for the right time to judge so that His “wheat” is not destroyed. (See Matthew 13:27–30.)

• Jesus waited for the right time to preach the Kingdom of God. (See Mark 1:14–15.)

• Jesus spent an entire night in prayer before making a major decision. (See Luke 6:12–13.)

• Rather than responding immediately, Jesus waited for the right timing to accomplish God’s will for Lazarus, which would bring God greater glory. (See John 11:3–6.)

• Jesus walked away from the dangerous crowd because it was not time for Him to die. (See Luke 4:28–30.)

Key Concepts Do not rush into a decision. Cautiousness involves considering all the factors before making a decision.

Think through what it is going to take to finish what you begin. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28).

Maybe what you want to do is a good thing. However, the right thing done at the wrong time can create greater problems. It is wise to practice caution by patiently waiting for the right timing. Many troubles resolve themselves if one simply waits. Wait until God gives you inward peace to move forward with your plans.

The Holy Spirit, not fear, prompts us to do the right thing at the right time. We often associate caution with safety. God has given us a natural desire for survival. For example, if a child puts his finger to a flame or heat source, when sensing pain, he will jerk his hand away. However, personal safety is not always

the chief concern. A cautious person takes conse­ quences into consideration while knowing there is a right time to take action for others even at the risk of pain or loss. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for another. (See I John 3:16.) The cause of Christ is paramount and we cannot afford to let fear deter us from this cause.

For example, we cautiously look both ways to avoid danger when crossing the street. But we do not let fear stop us from trying to rescue a child who is about to be hit by a car. Cautiousness is knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.

We can benefit from the cautions of others. Others have experience and can help us avoid making mistakes that we would later regret. We can exercise caution by asking for advice and discerning how it applies to our own lives. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Cautiousness in My Life • Luke 12:15—What should we beware of and why?

• I Corinthians 10:12—When do we need to be espe­ cially cautious and take heed?

• Galatians 5:14–16—If we are not careful to dem­ onstrate love to each other, what will the conse­ quences be?

• Ephesians 5:15–16—Name a few ways to walk cir­ cumspectly.

• James 4:13–15—What caution should we take before making plans?

• I John 4:1—A cautious person doesn’t believe everything he hears, but does what?

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The Character of God

Cautiousness Memory Verse Proverbs 19:2 “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.”

Memory Verse Game: Right Actions The goal of the game is to do the right action at the right time while memorizing the verse. Anyone who confuses the action sits out until the end of the game.

Gather your family into a circle. Choose one person to be “It.” He stands in the middle. “It” points to someone in the circle and says a phrase of the verse such as, “Also, that the soul.” The designated person raises his hand and repeats the phrase, “Also, that the soul.” Players on either side of the designated person clap their hands and repeat the phrase, “Also that the soul.” Then “It” points to another person and says the next phrase such as “be without knowledge” followed by the same actions.

If someone says a phrase out of order or confuses the motions, that person sits out until the verse is finished.

Have the children write about a time they were able to apply this verse in their lives. For example: “My brothers were having a great time outside, but I was asked to wash the dishes before going outside. There were too many dishes to fit on the drying rack. I didn’t want to take the time to dry and put away dishes, so I kept stacking the dishes higher and higher. The Lord brought this verse to mind, and I realized that if I kept hurrying, something could break. I decided to use caution, slow down, and dry and put away the dishes.” ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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Doers of the Word

Cautiousness in the Life of Esther Read Esther 3:1–7:10 as a family, and answer the following questions:

2. What advice did Mordecai give Esther about what to do and when to do it? “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). How have your authorities helped and directed you when you had a concern?

3. Instead of rushing to action, what did Esther cautiously do first? “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Do you consider consequences and pray before taking action?

4. How did Esther express caution in her petition to the King? “If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the

king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said” (Esther 5:8). Why should we be cautious about when we speak, what we say, and how we say it?

5. What happened between the first banquet and the second banquet? “Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou has said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken” (Esther 6:10). Why is it important to discern God’s timing when making an appeal?

6. What was the result of the right timing of Esther’s actions? “The Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor” (Esther 9:22). How does this story show the difference between cautiousness and fearfulness?

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1. What was in the letter that was sent throughout King Ahasuerus’ kingdom that greatly concerned Mordecai? “And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey” (Esther 3:13). How do you respond if you sense that something is not right?

Esther Carefully Makes a Bold Request “Let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said” (Esther 5:8b).

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Cautiousness is knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions

Cautiousness Craft Stop, Think, Act Introduction: Read to the children: “This month we are asking the Lord to develop cautiousness in our lives. What a privilege to respond to the work He is doing to change us into the image of His Son! Today we are going to make stoplights as a reminder to cautiously stop and think before taking action. God is the source of cautiousness, and as we listen to the promptings He gives us, He will build cautiousness into our lives.”

Supplies: A cardboard egg carton; scissors; 18 inches of yarn;

a hole punch; red, yellow, and green finger paint; wax paper or old newspaper.

Craft Instructions: Cut the bottom half of the egg carton into four sections. Give each child one section and instruct the children to leave the three egg cups connected. Trim off excess container with scissors. Turn the cups upside down and place on wax paper to prevent paint messes. Paint the circles red, yellow, and green to resemble a stoplight.

Allow the painted portions to dry before punching a hole in the side of the red cup. Tie yarn to create a hanger for the stoplight.

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Read to the children: "Hang your stoplights on a door knob or dresser drawer as a reminder to stop and think before acting. God gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us and prompt us. Red reminds us that when He gives you a caution, you should stop. Yellow is sometimes called a “caution light.” When we see the yellow circle on our egg carton stoplight, it reminds us to take some time and consider what the consequences of our actions could be. Ask yourself questions such as “Will this please the Lord? “ or “How will this affect others?” or “Is this the right time?” or “What will happen if I do this?” or “Why am I doing this?” Green reminds us to go and do the right thing at the right time."

Cautiousness Activity Right Timing Instructions: Read to the children: “Today we are going to fill in the blanks of a story to show us the importance of doing the right thing at the right time. Cut out each word or phrase in the word list and place in the Right Timing Story on the next page. Notice how important it is to do the right thing at the right time. If you place one in the wrong place, even good actions can become inappropriate. A cautious person knows the importance of doing the right thing at the right time.

Word List: • worked

• immediately crossed the road

• played

• brushed his teeth

• laughed

• washed his hands

• shouted

• put on his work boots

• whispered

• took off his work boots

• dug potatoes

• kicked a soccer ball

• got out of bed

• acted like a clown

• closed his eyes

• repeated his father’s instructions accurately

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• waited to cross the road

Cautiousness Activity Continued

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Right Timing Story One day there was a little boy who lived on the farm with his family. He ________________ early in the morning. He joined his family in the living room for devotions. During prayer time he ________________________. Afterwards, his father gave instructions for the day. He __________________ to his sister to listen closely. When his father asked if he understood the instructions he ______________________________________________.

Before he ran outside he _________________. During chore time, he ___________________ in the dirt. He ____________ hard. Suddenly he looked up and saw his little sister headed toward the electric fence. He _______________, “Look! The fence is on!” During play time, he ___________________________________ with his sister and she ________________ until she cried. They _________________, and __________________. Mom asked him to deliver a dozen eggs to the neighbor across the road. There was lots of traffic. He __________________________. After he delivered the eggs, his Mom called him in for dinner. The road was clear. He ____________________________. He came inside and __________________ and __________________________. They ate dinner. At bed time, he ___________________________.

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Was this boy a cautious boy or not?

Hymn History of

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”

“Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. . . .” His eyes wide with terror, an old salt tenaciously clung to the helm, babbling prayers unuttered since childhood, as another fierce wave grabbed the vessel and flung it across the foaming seas like a young child’s toy. The rage of the life-threatening storm was beyond belief. Each new mountainous wave seemed as if it would end their lives.

The next angry billow smashed against the ship, tearing it with watery claws and throwing the vessel into the air. The whole ship staggered as it landed in the hollow of the next giant wave, righting itself at the last possible moment before almost being crushed. On and on the wind and waves roared—no breaking nor relenting of the vicious, terrible onslaught.

Seasoned sailors who scoffed at other dangers were shamelessly sobbing, clinging to the railings, certain that the next moment would be their last.

Also on board during this furious storm was a thirty-five-year-old passenger—a schoolmaster named William Whiting. He knew the One Who commanded the winds and the waves now pummeling the ship. He had committed his soul to the Lord years before. Now he prayed, watching the tumultuous waves and awed by their power while feeling the frailty of man. He prayed, secure in knowing his omnipotent God. Whiting’s experience brings the words of Psalm 107 to life in a whole new way.

Safety is from the Lord. The promptings He gives us to be cautious are part of His plan to protect us. God is fully capable of keeping us safe, and when it is our time to die, He will carry us through. William’s faith assured him that even if this was God’s time for him to go, death would only be an introduction to the glories of Heaven. However, this was not God’s time for William to die. The next day found the damaged ship—still afloat—staggering back into port. The passengers and crew were battered—but alive.

The penning of the hymn occurred when a student came to William, who was headmaster at Winchester College Choristers’ School in England. The fearful youth explained that since childhood he’d been terrified of water. Now, in his trembling hand he held a ticket to cross

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“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:23–31).

Hymn History of “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”

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the ocean to America! He knew he needed to go, but he was shaking with fear at the thought of being on a ship in the midst of the expansive ocean.

It had not been long since his own encounter on rough seas, and William understood all too well the young man’s fears. He encouraged the student with the knowledge that not even the strongest storm could overpower the mighty Lord or separate him from His care. They talked a long time, and as the youth finally stood to leave, looking much calmer, William promised, “Before you depart, I’ll give you something to anchor your faith.”

William was true to his word. Before the young man’s ship sailed, he gave him a poem he’d just written, which began, Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bids the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!

England’s highly esteemed composer, John B. Dykes, paired the poem with his tune “MELITA,” named after the island on which Paul was shipwrecked. The hymn was published for the first time the next year, 1861, in Hymns Ancient and Modern. Little did William Whiting know that by the end of World War II this hymn would be widely known as “The Navy Hymn,” and it would be played at the funerals of two American presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

An unusual aspect of this hymn is its prayer to each member of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for safety on sea, land, and air. (Editor’s note: Several versions of this hymn are in existence; the original words may be found in the Trinity Hymnal, 1961 or 1990 edition.)

Cautiousness is “knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.”

Today’s seamen know the importance of right timing—they rely on sophisticated weathertracking devices to keep them informed as to what is going on meteorologically so they can take the right actions. The ocean is huge and powerful, and not practicing proper caution can have disastrous results for a ship and its passengers and crew.

Bibliography: • Collins, Ace, Stories Behind the Hymns that Inspire America, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2003.

• Morgan, Robert J., Then Sings My Soul, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2003.

• Osbeck, Kenneth W., 101 More Hymn Stories, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, 1982.

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Sing this hymn as a reminder to pray for others and to trust the Lord, Who is in control of all things, for the safety only He can give.

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