Remember God in Your Youth

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1

I. Rejoice in your youth

A. Much to rejoice about

B. Youth are generally blessed with great energy There are many opportunities for the future both with career and family Physically, the body is as strong as it will ever be

C. It is a passing phase

D. Eventually the energy level will drop Choices made in youth will narrow future opportunities (choose well!) The body begins to decay: hearing and vision weakens, sickness, etc.

II. Remember God’s judgment

A. Young people ought to be having a good time with friends and enjoying this special time in their lives.

B. However, that fun must be experienced within God’s restraints for He will judge all—young and old—for the deeds we have done.

C. Some young people allow themselves to indulge in the sins of the flesh

D. Some call it “sowing wild oats,” “experimenting,” “discovering themselves,” or “getting it out of their system”

E. These are excuses for indulging in sin, and poor excuses at that. Does one need indulge in murder, sexual immorality, lying, extortion, drunkenness, homosexuality, idolatry, violence, and stealing to clear their system?

F. On the contrary, introducing these things into our lives can cause greater problems.

G. Sexual immorality, drunkenness, lying, and other sins can quickly become habit—rooting itself in our character and making it hard to extract ourselves. Some do not live through this “experimentation” phase (as they call it) because their sin or unforeseen events bring an early death.

H. Sadly, some who indulge in sin bear the scars for a long time—sometimes all of their lives.

I. Drunkenness, sexual immorality, drug abuse, and other physical behaviors lead to depression because of the shame and guilt one experiences as a result of their sin.

J. I read a letter by a young Christian man writing to other young people telling of his friends from church who experienced great pain as a result of experimenting with sin

K. Girl who got drunk for the first time after graduation and lost her virginity that night—and remembers nothing about it Guy who smoked pot in high school and still does after 10 years even selling it to young high school students Friend who became gay and participated in the lifestyle who now lives with guilt and fear associated with physical and the psychological effects of his lifestyleI have known Christians in my life who experimented with sinful practices and have spent years trying to cope with the shame, guilt, and regret for all the “fun” they had.

III. Rejoice through obedience

A. I contend that the only way to truly rejoice in youth is to live in compliance with God’s will for it does not lead to regret, shame, or self-loathing

B. Proverbs 3:21-26 – You will be secure and confident

C. He is your perfect Guide because He is your creator—He knows you better than you will ever know yourself.

D. Keep wisdom: knowledge of what to do

E. God freely gives us wisdom that some must suffer to obtain It is better to learn from the wise than to learn as a fool Keep discretion: “ability to make responsible decisions” (Webster) Your confidence is not in yourself but in God’s way—His leadership We must acknowledge that He knows what is best for us even when we do not understand why He has commanded certain things. Many would give great riches to have the comfort and peace that the faithful child of God has when he lays his head on his pillow at night.

F. Better chance for a long life

G. Proverbs 3:3-8 – Wisdom guides you around things and people that can destroy you in your youth Ephesians 6:3 – (1) may be well with you, and (2) live long

H. Better chance for a happy life

I. Proverbs 8:32-36; 9:12 – You only hurt yourself with disobedience Proverbs 13:15 – The way of the disobedient is hard

J. You cannot sample sin without receiving the fruits of disobedience.

K. Every sin has a price—no one escapes without paying

L. Sadly, many people pay an enormous price for the fleeting joy of sin.

M. Some girls begin a family at a very young age when they would rather have fun with their friends at school Some girls must live with the guilt of killing an innocent life conceived irresponsibly, sometimes anguishing alone Some become paralyzed or suffer lifelong physical ailments (cirrhosis of the liver, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, brain damage) due to sinful choices Some live lives in poverty brought on by substance abuse, consequences of sinful choices, and limited job opportunities due to police records or physical limitations. The life of a Christian is hard? The life of the sinner is harder! The devil’s fun is a cheap substitute for the genuine satisfaction that comes from obeying God.

IV. Conclusion: Rejoice in your youth and encourage young people to do so. But remember that all you do will have consequences—good and bad—on earth and eternally.

V. Remembering God in Youth