I. INTRODUCTION

A. The whole Bible is written for all people, but it contains specific instructions that apply to certain categories of people. Persons within those categories should give even closer attention to those specific instructions.

B. In this lesson, let us notice some specific instructions that are given for young people. By no means are these words all that young men and women need to know, but young people should give them special consideration because these messages are addressed directly to them or about them.

II. A FEW WORDS TO THE YOUNG

A. In Psalm 119:9-16, young persons are told the key to success for a pure life.

1. Psalm 119 is an acrostic based on the Hebrew alphabet. This means that it is written in sections according to the twenty-two Hebrew letters, and each section begins with a different letter.

2. The second section (vv. 9-16) begins with the Hebrew letter Beth, and it answers its own question in verse 9: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”

a. This question and answer are vitally important to every young person. Each one is born with a clean and pure soul, but how shall he keep and maintain a pure way of life in the midst of the wickedness and corruption of the world?

b. The only effective answer is found in the word of God. Only God can give the guidance and instruction that lead to a truly pure life.

3. Because the word of God is the only basis for keeping a pure way, the psalmist has some thoughts about God's word in the remaining verses of this section.

a. Verse 10 shows that God is to be sought in a heartfelt way by keeping His commandments (consider 1John 5:1-3).

b. Verse 11 shows that treasuring God's word in the heart is the way to avoid sin and thus to keep a pure life.

c. Verses 12 and 13 show that young people should be taught God's word and should also teach it to others.

d. Verses 14-16 present God's word as an object of joy, meditation, delight, and memorization. All of these will contribute to success in a pure way of life.

4. Notice a few answers that are not given for the question, "How can a young man keep his way pure?”

a. Imitating the ways of one's peers is not a way to purity. Generally, this leads only to sin.

b. Following after popular culture is certainly not the way to purity. These ways lead to immodesty, immorality, and many others forms of ungodliness.

c. The ways of academia and the wisdom of men are not the way to purity. Such ways may be considered wise in the world, but they cannot keep a young person pure.

B. In Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7, young people are encouraged to make the most of their youth by remembering God.

1. This advice to the young begins in Ecclesiastes 11:7-10, where a young man is told to rejoice in his youth but to also remember certain points for the future.

a. The young man is to remember that the "days of darkness” are coming. This will be elaborated in the next chapter (vv. 7-8).

b. He is also to remember that he will be brought to judgment for the things he does in his youth. He is to follow the impulses of his heart and the desires of his eyes (v. 9), but those impulses and desires must not be for evil.

c. He must understand that "childhood and the prime of life are fleeting” (v. 10). His youthful vitality and strength will not last forever, so he must not waste them.

2. This context continues in Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, where the young are instructed to remember the Creator before the infirmities of age set in.

a. It is evident that remembering God is not merely an intellectual effort, but rather it is manifested in the activities of a young person.

b. Rather than waiting until the opportunities and the vigor of youth have passed, young people should use the advantages of youth in the service of God while they can.

c. The onset of age is described in a series of figures.

i. The light of youth's hope is dimmed by the darkness of age's difficulties (vv. 1-2).

ii. The watchmen of the house are the arms that tremble, and the mighty men are the legs that stoop in weakness (v. 3).

iii. The grinding ones are the teeth which are few, and those who look through windows are eyes that grow dim in sight (v. 3).

iv. The doors on the street are the lips that are shut as the sound of the grinding mill (teeth) is low (v. 4).

v. Every sound startles the aged from sleep, and the daughters of song sing softly because the sense of hearing has been dulled (v. 4).

vi. In verse 5, fears and worries are multiplied as the almond tree blossoms (the hair turns white), the grasshopper drags himself along (the decline of the body late in life), and the caperberry is ineffective (the sense of taste fails).

vii. In the end, death comes, the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (vv. 6-7).

d. Notice that these figures are not written to remind the elderly of their infirmities or the brevity of their lives, but rather they are to inform young people of the fleeting nature of youth and life. Young people often are unaware of these things and behave as if they will never die. This passage corrects their perception of life.

C. In Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20, children are given good reasons to obey their parents.

1. The first reason is given in Ephesians 6:1 – "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

a. Obedience to parents is simply right. This fact is naturally and universally recognized, and each child needs to recognize this in his own situation as well.

b. Notice that this verse specifies obedience to parents "in the Lord.” This reveals to us that even small children who have not been baptized into the Lord (Gal. 3:27) are to have a relationship with the Lord and to respect His authority over them.

2. Another reason is given in Ephesians 6:2-3 – "Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

a. Verse 2 contains a quotation from the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16). This ancient commandment has governed children from the beginning, and it remains in effect during the current dispensation.

b. When Israel received this commandment, the attached promise pertained to the land of Canaan ("the land which the LORD your God gives you”). Today, the promise extends to life anywhere on earth. Therefore, if a child wants to have a good life on earth, then let him begin by honoring his parents.

3. A third reason is given in Colossians 3:20 – "Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

a. Obedience to parents is not only a matter of making parents happy, but it also is a means of pleasing the Lord. Therefore, the responsibility of children to obey parents is made even greater.

b. Conversely, children that disobey parents displease the Lord. Parents should keep this in mind when teaching and disciplining their children. A child's obedience to his parents affects his relationship with God.

III. CONCLUSION

A. There are many other details that young people need to know in order to live well in this world, but the general lessons of the passages we have considered teach them what they need to succeed.

B. Young people, if you are not keeping your way pure by God's word, remembering Him in this crucial time of your life, and pleasing Him by honoring and obeying your parents, then change your ways. Youth is not a time to be wasted, but it is a time to be used in the service of the Lord.