Scripture Reading: Eccl. 11:9-12:1
GOD'S ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Intro.
1. The state of our youth (Socrates, c. 400 BC; sermon in AD 1274).
2. Young people are facing & making choices that will stay with you for the rest of your life (education, dating/marriage, drugs, alcohol, gangs, etc.). - cf. Deut. 30:15
3. Most important decision you can make is to serve God.
4. Eccl. 11:9-12:1 - Wise advice to young people (any age).
-[Three R's for educating young people.]
I. REJOICE IN YOUR YOUTH - 11:9.
A. Being Young Is A Blessing From God - cf. 12:3-8.
1. Strength - Prov. 20:29. (cf. 1 Sam. 17:35-37; Psa. 27:1)
2. Adventure, new things to learn, explore, experience.
B. God Wants You to Enjoy Being Young!
1. Rejoice - "To be glad, to cheer up, be happy" - Pursue wholesome pleasure - 3:12-13, 22; 5:18; 11:8.
2. Remember: Something does not have to be sinful/wrong for it to be fun! (Smoking, drinking, violence, dirty jokes…)
C. God Wants You To Know That You Will Answer To Him For Your Conduct While You Are Young.
1. Chose your activities knowing they will be judged.
2. Cf. Parents fill role of judge for a time (teach the lesson).
3. God sees all / judges all [you will answer for all].
4. Some grown-ups do not want to put this responsibility upon their children (or themselves) -- But God already has!
a. Do you understand sin? Is there sin in your life? What will happen to you if you are not saved from your sins? Who Jesus is? What He did for you? What should you do for Him?
b. Accountability means you are responsible & that you will answer for your conduct. - 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccl. 12:14.
II. REMOVE THE CAUSE OF SORROW: SIN - 11:10.
A. Being Young Is Not An Excuse To Sin.
1. Sin brings spiritual death/present difficulties.
2. Find genuine joy in your youth by removing evil which causes pain & sorrow - cf. Lk. 2:52.
3. Being young is not completely satisfying ("vanity").
B. Remove Sin From Your Life (The Cause Of Sorrow) - Psa. 119:9. (We all sin -- it is what we do about it that makes the difference!)
1. Become a Christian (H-B-R-C-B).
2. Live for Jesus - Be faithful (Matt. 7:21).
3. Run from sin & to good - 2 Tim. 2:22.
4. Be careful of the friends you choose - Prov. 1:10-16.
-2 Corinthians 7:1-
III. REMEMBER GOD - 12:1.
A. Think About God Now...Today And Every Day! - Prov. 3:1-2
1. Joseph - (Gen. 39:1) - At 17 (37:2), he remembered God though in a far away land!
2. Samuel - (1 Sam. 3:10) - As a child he was ready to hear God speak.
3. David (1 Sam. 17:33, 37) - He remembered God's power to save. (Great faith).
4. Josiah (2 Chrn. 34:1-3); At 16 he began to seek God & aggressively combat sin. You can seek God & defend truth, too.
5. Daniel & his companions (Dan. 1:8-16) - Remembered it is more important not to defile themselves than to go along with the crowd.
6. Timothy (2 Tim. 4:12) - Remembered to set an example of godliness from his youth up.
7. Jesus (Lk. 2:49) - Always remembered to obey God.
B. Things That Will Help You Remember God:
1. Make up your mind…Now! - Josh. 24:15
2. Learn the Bible - Rom. 10:17.
3. Obey God - Heb. 5:9 (Jesus saves those who obey).
4. Pray - 1 Ths. 5:17.
5. Praise (worship) God - Psa. 148:12-13.
6. Eccl. 12:1 - You are setting a pattern for the rest of your life right now!
Conclusion
1. Eccl. 11:9-12:1 - Youth are to rejoice in all good things that give the heart true happiness (v. 9).
a. Put aside sin because it interferes with true joy (v. 10).
b. Know that only by remembering God while you are young will you find true happiness throughout life (v. 1).
2. Eccl. 12:13 - This is your duty, too!
Citations
THE STATE OF YOUTH
“Our youths love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority—they show disrespect for their elders and love to chatter in places of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up food, and tyrannize teachers.”
(Attributed to Socrates, c. 400 BC)
Attributed to SOCRATES by Plato, according to William L. Patty and Louise S. Johnson, Personality and Adjustment, p. 277 (1953)
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“The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress.”
(Attributed to Peter the Hermit from a sermon preached in AD 1274)