Blessings and Challenges of Youth

2. Blessings and Challenges of Youth

3. Blessings of Youth • A time of enjoyment. Eccl. 11:9 “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,       And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;       Walk in the ways of your heart,       And in the sight of your eyes;       But know that for all these       God will bring you into judgment.”

4. Blessings: Better Health and Energy • Prov. 20:29 • Eccl. 12 depicts the failing of the body. • Use this in the service of the Lord. • Be present at every assembly. • Work, serve others. • Teach classes. • Don’t squander it. Luke 8:14 “The glory of young men is their strength,...” “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

5. Blessings: Idealism • Younger people tend to be more idealistic. • Some older people become jaded, disillusioned and have a negative approach to life. • David and Jonathan had a “can-do” approach, while the older people had a “can’t-be-done” attitude.

6. Blessings: Idealism • Younger people tend to be more idealistic. • It is a spirit we all should have. • The Lord asked 12 ordinary men to change the world. • And they did. • “I can do all things through Christ...” Phil. 4:13 • “...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:37

7. Blessings: Idealism • Younger people tend to be more idealistic. • It is a spirit we all should have. • But rashness and idealism are not identical. • Distinguish between the negativity of cynicism (most people can’t be trusted) and the wisdom of realism. • Heed the wisdom found in the gray-headed. Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength,       And the splendor of old men is their gray head.”

8. Blessings: Righteousness Is Possible • The Creator can be served by the young. • Eccl. 12:1 • Many great inspirational examples. • Joseph, Joshua, David, Daniel, Timothy, Jesus. • Make God’s word your guide. Psa. 119:9 • Give careful attention to Proverbs. “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,      Before the difficult days come,       And the years draw near when you say,       ‘I have no pleasure in them’”: “How can a young man cleanse his way?         By taking heed according to Your word.”

9. Challenges: Lack of Respect • David wanted to fight Goliath. • His brother was angry. • Saul discouraged him. • Goliath disdained him.

10. Challenges: Lack of Respect • David wanted to fight Goliath and received no respect. • Paul’s admonition to Timothy. 1 Tim. 4:12 • How will you respond? • Be discouraged and give up? • Demand respect? • Earn it by doing the right things? 1 Tim. 4:12-16 • In time, it will come. “12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

11. Challenges: Important Decisions • Must make difficult choices regarding education, work, a mate, etc. • Put first things first as you choose. Matt. 6:33 • Pray for wisdom. James 1:2-5 • Consider carefully the counsel of older, spiritually minded people. “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

12. Challenges: Lack of Knowledge • Young people tend to be more unstable and/or easily influenced. Prov. 7:6,7; Eph. 4:13,14 • Partly a result of less knowledge. • Be aware of the danger and utilize one of your blessings. • Young people learn more quickly and easily. • You can’t rush the wisdom of experience, but you can rush the wisdom that comes from study. “13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” “6 For at the window of my house       I looked through my lattice,        7 And saw among the simple,       I perceived among the youths,       A young man devoid of understanding,”

13. Challenges: Lack of Experience • Can be frightening to think of marriage and child-rearing. • Seek God’s word and listen to others who have had success. • Be careful about where you get your advice.

14. Challenges: Lack of Experience • Can be frightening to think of marriage and child-rearing. • Lack of experience has a positive side. • Some older people give advice based on experience more than Scripture. • Young people may approach the Scriptures with more of an open mind.

15. Challenges: Impatience • Idealism easily becomes impatience and frustration. • Can cause a lack of love and kindness. Col. 3 • Coupled with a lack of knowledge it could lead to unscriptural actions. • Be careful. Eph. 5:15-17 • Positive: caution (slowness to act) can become complacency (failure to act). “17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,”

16. Challenges:Peer Pressure and Sexual Temptation • Young people face many pressures. • Strengthen yourselves for this. • Spend time with God’s word. Psa. 119:9 • It will teach and provide inspirational examples. • There are impressive warnings. “How can a young man cleanse his way?         By taking heed according to Your word.”

17. Challenges:Peer Pressure and Sexual Temptation • Young people face many pressures. • Strengthen yourselves for this. • Spend time with God’s word. Psa. 119:9 • Choose good friends. Prov. 13:20 • Avoid dangerous situations. 1 Cor. 6:18 • Marriage is part of God’s solution. 1 Cor. 7 • Peer pressure can help strengthen us. James 1 “He who walks with wise men will be wise,       But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”

18. Youth:A Time of Blessings and Challenges • Utilize the blessings God has given and by faith you can meet the challenges. • Eccl. 12:1 ”Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,       And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;        Walk in the ways of your heart,        And in the sight of your eyes;        But know that for all these        God will bring you into judgment.” • 1 Tim. 4:12 ”Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”