A Word to the Youths

Why do many societies have problems with some youths? Note the word “some” because this does not apply to all youths.

It’s mainly because youths are inexperienced in life, yet they want to live as adults. They have a tendency to make irrational decisions due to immaturity. Many adults have looked back at their lives and said “I wish l did not do that when l was younger”.
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When we look at scripture, we can see examples of youths that lived for the Lord and brought honour to His name. This tells us that being a youth, is no excuse to do otherwise.

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So what do the scriptures say:
Ecclesiastes 11; 9-10, 12;1
 
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
Walk in the [b]ways of your heart,
And [c]in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove [d]sorrow from your heart,
And put away evil from your flesh,
For childhood and [e]youth are vanity.
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the [a]difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”:

What the scriptures are saying here in Eccl 11; 9-10 is that if you walk in the ways of your hearts and or the sight of your eyes, they can bring sorrow. In addition to this, you will be judged. The remedy is found in Eccl 12: 1, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth”.

So how does a young person get wisdom?
 From the scriptures, the word of life, rightly dividing the word.

We must remember that David was a youth (1 Samuel 16, 11,  1 Samuel 17; 42), and he lived for the Lord. The young men, Dainel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah that refused to eat the kings portion were young (Daniel 1; 17). These all lived for the Lord from a young age. Today we still speak about them.

There are modern day challenges that its possible these old testament people did not need to face. However we must remember that they did exploits for the Lord under the Old covenant. Today, we have Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col 1 ;27). The bible says that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us (Phil 4; 13). These old testament youths, did not have Christ in them. Today, we have a better advantage than they did. We have grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.

Titus 2: 11-12
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
 
Timothy in the new testament was young. This is why the book of Timothy reads “let no man despise thy youth” ( 1 Timothy 4;12). This was written to Timothy.

There is also a reason why the bible says that the younger ones should submit and to elders  (1 Peter 5;5). It’s so that they can learn from them and avoid unnecessary mistakes.

The bible also says “ Flee youthful lusts” ( 2 Timothy 2; 22)  for a reason. There are some things that can attract youths. The remedy can be found in the rest of the verse “but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”.  The bible never tells us to do something that we cannot do.

Are you a youth?
Be assured that the Lord has great plans for you. The best thing you can do is to love the Lord and serve him from young. That is the best. That way, your mind sets will be according to scripture and you can avoid pitfalls that many others fall into that live carelessly.

Serving God from young pays!. There are no words to describe what you profit by following the Lord from young.

So are you young? Then say yes to the Lord now.
Bisi Oladipupo