Tag: Youth

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David’s moral wishlist.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭101‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is believed that Psalm 101 was inserted toward the end of David’s life, but it’s obvious that he wrote it when he was young, likely before becoming king. I like what one commentator used as the word that described David’s intentions to rule his country well, DETERMINATION.

David was determined to do right. David was anointed king three times. Samuel anointed David in his youth, (1 Samuel 16:13). After Saul’s death he was anointed king over the tribe of Judah at Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4). Seven years later he was anointed king over all the tribes of Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). But as life unfolded in David’s life, he lost sight of his original passion for God and justice. What was it that cooled or shifted his focus of being this righteous standard he had set for himself. David had a front row seat to observe what power, authority and wealth had done to his predecessor. He watched Saul’s spiritual life unravel right in front of him, throwing a spear at David because of the king’s spiritual torment. Is seeing a bad example of leadership helpful to guide one’s own idea of a good leader? I think it is. Yet, it is clearly not enough to be different. A great leader has to grow beyond just doing better than the person before them.

David’s own words in this Psalm must have haunted him as he looked back, he wrote, “I refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar!” Or, “I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.” These are evidence of a young man’s battle to control his own thoughts, disorder desires and overcome temptations that come his way. Job declared that he had made a covenant with his own eyes, “not to look with lust at a young woman,” (Job 31:1). When David was coming into his years of being a king at 30 years old, his intention, his determination was to NOT put up with conceit or pride. As it turned out, David’s moral wishlist ended up becoming his downfall. What he hated at thirty, he succumbed to at fifty. What do you think caused such a shift from passion to do right to passion to do whatever he wanted? Twenty years of battle victories led to kingdom wide peace and wealth. David no longer needed to go to lead his army against his enemies. He was too valuable, too important, too busy? In the spring when kings go off to war, David stayed home, (2 Samuel 11:1). Everything had been conquered in David’s life, except the desires within his own soul!

I get why this Psalm was inserted into the songs of praise at the end of David’s life, it is a reminder to guard our hearts and stoke the righteous passions of our youth even when we’ve made it, especially if we’ve won.

Prayer

Dad,
There are so many lessons to be learned from great men and women in the Bible. The heroic stories, the rags to riches stories, the famous “such a time as this” stories, all of them are so inspiring. Yet, David’s extraordinary life is one example of how quickly things can turn when I lose sight of the most important thing, the number one priority relationship in my life – you! I had wild and crazy expectations of changing my world and Your Church when I was young. Now, I just want to fulfill my calling and tend to my most precious relationships. I need your grace and mercy to finish strong and end well.

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Young men’s folly.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave. Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Proverbs sets up this interesting discussion about the dangers of womanly trickery. Whole chapters discuss her wily ways, alluringly, setting and snapping the death trap for men – young men in particular.

If Proverbs was a training manual for young Jewish boys, then these topics became salacious reading material. And, I’m sure there were secret whispers on the backside of the local synagogue. When I read these Proverbs, as a young man, I remember having visions of sleazy, vegas-strip like scenarios. I could viscerally feel the ick as I imagined some boy, wide-eyed and mesmerized, being lured in like a deer led to his demise. It was creepy, but appealing in a dangerous sort of way.

Proverbs 7 reads like a dirty magazine hidden under the mattress. I had not been to Vegas, nor visited a wayward women’s establishment nor a strip club. I have no personal experience with these awful, misguided, rights of passage. However, I no longer believe the wisdom writers and their teachers were attempting to mentally or visually tantalize the young souls of men.

Wisdom is saying something much deeper, much truer than blaming all the temptations on the temptress. I now believe EXACTLY what these verses propose. The woman’s name is Folly!

There are basically four words for foolish in Proverbs. One, in this description, is (kesiluth) stupidity! It’s the most benign of the four. It just means unlearned, unaware. Wisdom is the cure for stupid! However, we are fortunate because this verse contains the second most common word for foolish, (pethiyyuth) simple. It comes from the root word, (pathah) spacious, wide or open. As it pertains to a fool, it would mean, easily enticed, deceived or persuaded.

The warning doesn’t just come from the context of the young man being stupidly unaware and easily manipulated. It also comes with the voracity of this personified woman. This kind of tempter, is a (hamah) a predator who growls, and roars boisterously! There is a brash confidence to consume the innocence of their prey. There is far more than the sexual escapades of youth being allured by foolishness. Foolishness can be anything that deters, distracts, disengages a young man’s attention from doing what is right.

It may not seem as dangerous as succumbing to the seductive whispers of sexual freedom, but there are other temptations that lead to death. There are dares, bribes, and arrogance that surge in a young man’s soul. The triple-dog dare to lick the frozen pole. The bribe to try the latest social media challenge to huff, swallow or handle some untested experiment, experience or drug that puts one in an early grave. The rush of arrogance to be a somebody in demented group-think challenge of speed or reckless behavior.

The invitation to “come in with me,” isn’t always from a woman named Folly! It’s just as often a voice challenging a young man to prove himself by engaging in stupidity! And, the Proverb is 100%, accurately true – little do they know that the dead are there. And Folly’s guests are all found in the grave!

Our young men need Fathers. Our young men need mentors. I have seen more than just a delayed adolescence over the past several years. I have seen an extension of the folly season continue on into someone’s 20’s and 30’s. No wonder Wisdom BEGS us to listen. No wonder Wisdom constantly goes out searching, seeking for the simple so they might not become easy prey for the predators of foolishness.

Remember young men, the war for your heart and mind is real. Don’t be the casualty of folly! I have always recommended the Apostle Paul’s advice in 1 Cor. 15:33, “bad company corrupts good morals.” Get out while you can. Run from Folly. Embrace Wisdom.

Prayer

Dad,
Help us! Rescue us from ourselves and those who prey on the innocence of our youth. You found me and saved me. Pour out Your Spirit on our young men all over the globe. Meet them, Father them, as you have done for me. Amen.

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Serving a life sentence.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Apostle John does an amazing job, transitioning from a journalist for Jesus to a hard hitting, truth telling, author. He even becomes a powerful prophetic voice, miraculously beating death, then recording the apocalyptic book of Revelation! As a highly respected Apostle, mentor and elder statesman of the Church, his letters are both gentle, but fiercely poignant! I would say this, when looking at all the teachings, miracles and behaviors of Jesus, John becomes the best first step of not just interpreting Jesus’ ways, but of understanding the motives of God. John’s letters are also the best way to answer the question, “how then shall we live?”

Here in these verses John breaks down the audience of the very young in faith, the “teknion,” little child. The elders of faith, “patér,” a father, or senior. And, the youth of faith, “neaniskos,” a young man or youth. These groupings possibly identifying the simple stages or maturity levels of those who walk with Jesus.

To the young, understanding the beauty and power that God’s forgiveness of sin has on us as we look at our past. Even though we still sin, the freedom to see ourselves as new creatures, is vital for us to move forward in our faith.

To the elder, the mature, to “ginóskó,” to come to know, recognize from first hand experience who God is, has always been and always will be. This is a steady, unwavering faith, that rides the swells of tumultuous moments and of time, where doubt can cripple our faith later in life.

To the youth, who’s faith MUST “nikaó,” to conquer, prevail and subdue the “ponéros,” evil, wicked, pain-ridden, malicious, slothful seasons of attacks, traps and pitfalls of life. This conquering is a quest of a cool Greek root word, “niké,” victory!

These phases or seasons of life are such a powerful story of how one should determine to live their whole life as a solid follower of Christ. From babes to mature, from milk to meat, as the Apostle Paul puts it. Each season has its own battles, its own victories. These letters John writes are for encouraging and admonishing us to move from childish to full stature adults in being formed into the image of Christ Jesus. Each season can bring a person’s faith down. Each one has its own challenges and opportunities. Yet, with Christ we can, every one of us, be more than conquerors! There seems to be so many who have “fallen away,” “deconstructed,” or just chosen to walk away from the grace of God. I know it’s not easy to live a whole life of unwavering faith, but I am determined, despite my sin, distractions or doubts. I will serve and follow God all the way to the very end of this life! I am serving a life sentence of FAITH!

Prayer

Dad,
I am so thankful for the men who gave their lives for the continuation of the gospel. What a supernatural, providential gift this has been for all of us, eons later. I absolutely love Your Word! I fell in love with you first but immediately discovered that to know You, I had to know Your Word. It is truly eternal and life changing. I am yours to the very end!

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Riddle me this young Padawan.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Proverbs was written, likely as a school course for young men (according to Tim Keller). You just can’t get any clearer about the purpose of the book, the collection of the wise and their riddles. To teach people to live disciplined and successful lives.

Who doesn’t WANT discipline and success? Well, Proverbs also helps us with that answer in later chapters. We find it is the either the FOOL or the REBELLIOUS.

The rebellious is obvious. Throwing off constraints, doing what they think is right and ultimately whatever they want to do. They learn through bloody noses, broken bones and lots of trouble with parents and authorities. They feel invincible and indestructible, yet they tend to damage everything around them. What’s the greatest excuse the rebel uses later after burning down everything around them? Why didn’t someone stop me? Uh, because you wouldn’t listen.

The first group, the fool, is trickier. There are purposeful, malicious fools and the thick-headed, bumbling ones who can’t figure out why they have no real friends.

Proverbs is written to help people who want wisdom, to find it. And by warnings, to try to keep people from being the rebel or the fool, knowing they will not listen or heed any advice. The wise person admits they do not know and want to learn, the rebel cares about nothing but themself and the fool is sadly stuck in a loop for life.

Proverbs isn’t a casual read, one-and-done experience. It was written to be explored, held in tension and to experiment with the process. You read a Proverb like 16:9 when you’re young, then mediate on it in your 30’s, 40’s and beyond. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Like I’ve written before, I read one entire chapter of Proverbs every single day when I was 16 years old and did so until my 20’s. I determined to LIVE my life based on Proverbs 16:9.

I memorized verses, I learned that if I got wisdom it was the only way it would make up for my shyness and social awkwardness. When I started Proverbs I just wanted to be normal, by the time I was 20, I discovered that normal was overrated and boring. Actually, because of Proverbs I just wanted to be who God created me to be! I was differentiating from what the fakes and fads were trying to pull off while trying impress others. I would be stubbornly obedient to God, opposite of resolutely rebellious. I would run towards God not from Him. I would seek to cause good trouble, not backing down from a challenge. I would not ignore bad behaviors or choices of friends when I deeply loved them, even risking their friendship to tell them the truth. Remember, “better the wounds of a friend?” (27:6).

Proverbs sharpened my social skills and gave me an edge of godly perspective when life was challenging. Proverbs even gave me kind of sixth sense when people were lying to me, using excuses to hide from what they knew was true, or even twisting God’s Word to fit their circumstances. God used Proverbs to do just want Solomon wrote, teach me wisdom and discipline.

If you lack wisdom and discipline or your life feels out of control, commit to reading this 31 Day guide, then repeat as often as possible. NO ONE can do this for you! It isn’t a quick fix and can’t give you instant results, but it works! And, unlike all the other self help methods, this one is backed by Jesus himself – the very wisdom of God.

Prayer

Dad,
Where would I be, who would I be without you? Everything good that I have came from you. Every good and decent thought or behavior is there because of you. Your word has been and is a light shining ahead of my feet! As I look back, I am so grateful for your grace and abundant wisdom!