I. Parting advice
A. It is the frequent role of older people to offer advice to the younger at various stages in their lives: graduation, going off to college, workforce, or war, marriage, birth of a child, etc.
B. It is the love of those who are older for the young and a desire to save them unnecessary heartache, suffering, or bad lifelong consequences.
C. We have several who are going to college that we want to especially give wise Biblical counsel but the wisdom shared applies to all of us.
II. Don’t forsake the wisdom you have received from godly sources
A. Proverbs 1:8—9; 29-33; 3:1-4
B. You may not always understand or appreciate the godly wisdom from parents, Bible class teachers, preachers and Christians, but it can be the greatest treasure in life if it keeps us from making terrible mistakes that could make our life more difficult.
III. Trust in God
A. Entrust your life to Him
- Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust with your whole heart and mind
- 2 Timothy 1:12 – Paul could face death knowing he trusted in God’s care
B. Trust that His way is right
- Do not be wise in your own understanding for it usually leads to evil
- People aren’t being struck down immediately for sin and it can be easy to be drawn into sin. Perhaps you think you can participate in sin then repent and live the holy life.
- 1 Peter 4:1-5 – Not going in the flood of waste but standing pure
IV. Give God the honor and worship that He deserves
A. Be faithful in worship to God
- Hebrews 10:19-25 – Recognizes God’s goodness and need to encourage others
- Personal responsibility and self-direction for attending worship
- When you move out from home you will not have parents coming in to wake you up in the morning and taking you to services.
- You will be responsible for making sure that you plan to go in the first place and get up in plenty of time to eat, dress, and arrive before time to start.
- You will be responsible for getting your Bible lessons and making sure that you are there for each service.
- You will be responsible for not staying up so late on Saturday night that you sleep in on Sunday or are asleep in the assembly.
- Young men: if there is a men’s meeting, you are expected to attend and have a voice in what is done or, at least, to listen and learn.
- You are expected to be there for the nights of the gospel meeting and the work that the church does throughout the year.
- You need to find a place to worship and let them know that they can depend on you to be a part of that church and its work.
- Let your role in the church help build up the group
- 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Be a good example in your speech and conduct
Give attention to building up your Biblical knowledge
Use your gifts and abilities for the building up of the local church
Immerse yourself in the life of Christ and let it shine through you
Guard yourself so that you are not drawn away to ungodliness
- I realized that the people at church didn’t know my mom or sisters; they only knew me and my place in the local church had nothing to do with anything but my own responsibility and participation.
- Do not allow yourself to begin missing services. This is a bad habit that can lead you to drift from a close relationship with God and His people and makes you weak (like sheep wandering from the flock).
B. Give financially as you prosper to show thankfulness to God
- Proverbs 3:9-10 – We honor God with our wealth
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
- The amount you give may not be great as you work through college and begin your career, but give something from what you earn as thankfulness to God and sharing in the work that the local church does for the glory of God.
V. Follow the way of right by walking worthy of the calling of God
A. There is a great temptation to indulge in immorality when you first go on your own.
- Realize that this is the philosophy of sinful flesh and the consequences are great
- Proverbs 5:7-14
- Proverbs 5:20-23 – iniquity ensnares and binds us to our foolish desires
- Galatians 6:7-9