Sunday, 23 October 2011

Dealing with your youth




Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.  – Ecclesiastes 11v9-10

Enjoy being young! Believe it or not that’s what Solomon is saying here. Enjoy being young, check out life, and find out who you are.

This is a normal part of being young. Youth need to discover who they are and who there are is more than just an extension of their parents. Youth are who they are and they do need to figure out who they are. They need a little bit of liberty to do so. Once we get past this time we older folks have some terms for this – ‘spreading their wings’ and ‘flying their kite’ both picture this wonderful and fearsome time of life.

However, in all of that, there is something to remember. In all of this God is still there. The experimentation of youth needs to be tempered with the truth that God is still God. While testing out life for themselves, youth need to remember that God is God, He does not change, and His standards are not flexible.

Youth brings its trials. Youth brings its temptations. Youth is vanity and vexation of spirit. In all of the excitement and fun and joys of youth there is one thing to remember above all else.

That is the topic of the next thought – stay tuned. 

No comments: