A teenager brings her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They’re appalled by his haircut, his tattoos, his piercings. Later, the girl’s mom says, “Dear, he doesn’t seem to be a very nice boy.” “Oh, please, Mom!” says the daughter. “If he wasn’t nice, would he be doing 500 hours of community service?”
#1 Intentional Child-Training is Needed.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, [a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.
#2 Child-Training Must Happen Early and Often.
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart [a]on his destruction.
#3 Parents Must Be Selective to Be Effective with Their Time and Energy
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
#4 A Family That Has Fun and Laughs Together Stays Together
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart [a]does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
#5 Be Honest and Keep Your Word with Your Children
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
This week we are going to consider Biblical Instructions for Teenagers
#1 A Teenager Will Give An Account for How They Spend Their Youth
Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the [a]ways of your heart, And [b]in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Just as parents need to be reminded that children are only lent to them from God, so teenagers need to be reminded that their youthful years are a priceless, irreplaceable gift to which God will hold them accountable for. Every life, regardless of age, is a gift from God and the life that we live is our gift back to God. Teenagers must also realize that the decisions made in life in the early years will impact (for good or for bad) their later years. Our decisions determine our destiny. Our lives are the sum of all the decisions we make. A clear truth revealed in Scripture is that we can choose our choices, but we cannot choose our consequences. We make our decisions then our decisions make us!
Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
#2 A Teenager Should Give Respectful Consideration to What their Parents Say
Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
There is great value in learning from the life experiences of others. In most situations parents truly are looking out for the best interest of their children (sadly, there are some relatively rare exceptions to this generality). A teenager may think and feel they “know more” than their parents but this is delusional thinking based on inexperience. Most parents have faced the objectives and challenges of life and are willing to be a good source of wisdom and guidance for their children. Teenagers must maintain the teaching about a coachable mentality because when we stop learning we stop improving.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
#3 A Teenager Should Consider the Company they Keep
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
It is important for a teenager to choose their company and companies from those who are not infected with the spirit of rebellion, immaturity, laziness, or entitlement. As the old saying goes “Show me your friends and I will show you your future”. When a clean car drives through a mud puddle the puddle doesn’t get clean… the car always gets dirty. Teenagers are to be a Gospel witness to their friends that are not yet Christians, but a teenager must be careful to surround themselves with like-minded Christ followers. Specifically in dating…. Teenagers must remember that dating is not evangelism… the best way not to marry an unbeliever is by not dating an unbeliever. The Spiritual condition of our friends should be the number 1 criterion for whom we allow access to our lives to whom we invest our lives in.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the [a]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what [a]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what [b]communion has light with darkness?
#4 Teenagers (both boys and girls) Should Consider the Bible’s Standard for Ideal Womanhood.
Proverbs 31:10-31 Who[a] can find a [b]virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; From [c]her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
A- Verse 11- Loyalty. The Scripture implies that loyalty and trustworthiness are of more value than wealth.
Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth said: “Entreat[a] me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
B- Verse 13,19, 22, 27- Skill in homemaking. May girls today make light of domestic knowledge. But without skill in homemaking and the grace of good character, it will be difficult to maintain a happy home.
1 Timothy 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
C- Verse 20- Generosity. This is the crown of Christian character.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [a]bountifully will also reap [b]bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [c]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
D- Verse 26- Wisdom and kindness in speech. A sharp tongue and harsh words will destroy any loving relationship.
Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
E- Verse 27- Carefulness and orderliness. Orderly habits can be cultivated. Lack of order in the home has caused many conflicts between couples.
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
The qualities outlined in Proverbs 31 do not change, and so to summarize the whole matter, we would simply say that things have changed very much for teenagers over the years, but people have changed very little, and God has not changed at all. When we do things God’s way, we can expect and enjoy God’s results.
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