Power Point Show
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 4:1-7
Ways to Ruin Your Life in Your Youth
Intro.
1. Few sit down and plan to ruin their lives (alcoholism, drug addiction, divorce, etc.). Yet, lives are ruined by foolish, sinful choices, Prov. 13:15.
2. Many life-defining choices are made early in life: Faith, education,
career, marriage, and priorities of life. Wrong choices can cascade into disastrous consequences. What goes wrong? How can you avoid this?
3. Counsel of godly parents, grandparents, older Christians, Prov. 4:1-7.
4. God’s plan for successful life from your youth, Eccl. 11:9-12:1, 13.
5. 10 Ways to Ruin Your Life in Your 20s (Sean Lowe blog), Jonathan Pokluda.
-Ways to Ruin Your Life in Your Youth-
(1) Believe life is all about you. Mark 10:43; Luke 9:23; Gal. 2:20
-8.2 billion people: All are important to God. Live for others, not yourself.
-Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov. 16:18, ESV)
(2) Believe your actions don’t have consequences. Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23; Gal. 6:7-8
a. What you choose to do (and be) and will bear its fruit.
b. You are in the process of becoming what you will be one day: A great faith, spouse, parent, career, reputation, etc. – or the opposite.
-The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. (Proverbs 14:15, ESV)
-If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Prov. 24:12, ESV)
(3) Live without self-control. Prov. 25:28
a. Live outside your means, Eccl. 2:10; 5:10-12.
1) When you spend more than you can afford, you still have to pay for it . . . plus interest.
2) “Good times” now may mean “bad
times” of debt later, Hab. 2:6-7.
-The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
(Proverbs 22:7, ESV)
b. Feed
an addiction.
2 Pet. 2:19
-Alcohol, money, sex, porn, drugs,
shopping . . . Addictions bring death (spiritually, sometimes physically, of
relationships, freedom, and joy).
-Addiction occurs through repetition (like exercise), so stop
now – not after “one last time.”
-The righteousness of the upright
delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. (Proverbs
11:6, ESV)
c. Live
for immediate gratification. 1 Cor.
9:25-27; Gal. 6:9
1) We have microwave patience and gourmet expectations.
2) cf. Body piercings and tattoos. (Judgment, impulsiveness, peer pressure) Why do people get tattoos? (https://tinyurl.com/22vqwaky)
a. LOM prohibited, Lev. 19:28 (grief custom of idolaters).
b. Must have a correct view of our bodies, 1 Cor. 6:13-20.
-Body is for the Lord (6:13); Will be raised by God (6:14); Member of Christ (6:15); Temple of H.S. (6:19); Not your own (6:19); To glorify God (6:20); Belongs to God (6:20).
-Thus, we are to take care of our bodies, not abuse and harm them.
c. Foresight re. future impact on your life and influence (1 Tim. 4:12).
-The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. (Proverbs 21:20, ESV)
(4) Run with fools. Prov. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:33 (Psalm 1:1-2)
a. You become what you hang around with (“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”)
b. Hang around with the faithless,
idiots, addicts, or criminals and that is what you will become (vice versa).
Prov. 12:26
-Walk with the wise and
become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
(Proverbs 13:20, ESV)
(5) Tolerate evil. Eph. 5:5-7, 11
a. When it comes to setting standards, “It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate” that counts (Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin).
b. Evil actively seeks to destroy you and others; Oppose it.
c. God does not tolerate sin; He gave His Son to die because of it.
-To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13, ESV)
(6) Carelessly give your heart away. Prov. 20:25; Eccl. 5:5
a. Marriage: Someone who will protect your heart (Matt. 19:4-6).
b. Be careful what entertains and fills your heart, what it seeks, who and what it loves. (Warning: Pre, extra-marital sex and porn break hearts.)
-Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
(7) Avoid accountability. Eccl. 11:9; 12:14 (Matt. 25:19)
a. Don’t run from those who help hold you accountable; they love you!
b. If you run with those who say “anything goes,” you will ruin your life.
-Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1, ESV)
Conclusion
1. Forgetting God at any age ruins your life, Eccl. 12:1.
2. To set your life on the road to success, remember Solomon’s 3 R’s: Rejoice, remove, and remember (Eccl. 11:9-12:1).
“There you have it: how to ruin your life in 10 simple steps. Now please don’t. Instead, make these your resolutions:
Resolve to walk with God this year.
Resolve to live below your means.
Resolve to starve addictions.
Resolve to change your playmates and playground.
Resolve to be careful with your heart.
Resolve to stand against the evil around you.
Resolve to prioritize the things of God above all other things.
Resolve to give your life away for something bigger.
Resolve to hold out for God’s best.
Resolve not to do any of this alone.” (Jonathan Pokluda)
By: Joe R. Price
Posted August 15, 2024