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fam26 Wise advice for youth version 2.1

Wise Advice for Youth
By David Cox
[fam26] v2.1 ©2023 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely photocopy and print this for non-profit use

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The Way Things Are

Genesis 8:21… for the imagination of man’s heart [is] evil from his youth

Even God Himself recognizes that in this stage of life, the wickedness of the heart begins and really gets going strongly in the human heart.

Youth is a difficult time, whatever the person or his situation. At the age of 13 to 18, the human body undergoes a lot of changes. The hormones start kicking in, and a child becomes an adult. It is a time of transition to an adult which is when the body grows (height) as well as becomes fully functioning. Youth begin to have a sexual life in that they are physically mature enough to have sex, have babies, and they begin to think about this (again their hormones are at work).




Psalms 129:1-2
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 2 many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

The Bible speaks to Israel as “from their youth”, afflicted with many things, but fighting to not be drown by them. The remedy for this is the same that God gave Israel, to trust in God, and to seek Him with all their heart, and the frustrations will leave, or they will turn into blessings.

A Time when Everything is New

Job 13:26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

When one is a child, their parents decide everything for them, and there is really no problem. But when the person enters the teen years, he thinks he is an adult, and resents everything that others decide for him, from what he is to eat, to what clothes he is to buy and wear, to what household chores he is to do, and all this causes many strong battles between the teen and whatever adult is supervising. It is a pity, but youth is a time of “bitterness and … iniquities” (sins) (Job 13:26). It is important for both the teen and those adults responsible for the teen to recognize this process of becoming an adult, and that both work together as the teen takes on more responsibility and makes their own decisions. One is not without the other.

Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.

Youth is a time of much energy, strength, and activity. They “get bored” very easily because they always want to go, move, have experiences, and do things (but they do not include work in these desires as a rule). To be quiet, calm, and have patience is not normal for youth. On the other hand, the “beauty” of age is its experiences and understanding (wisdom). (They have been down life’s road before and made all these mistakes themselves, in their own life.) Ecclesiastes 11:10b… for childhood and youth are vanity. Teens wrongly invest their energy and life in vain things, which have no eternal benefit, and the aged have wisdom, but don’t have the energy to apply it and use it in their old age. Teens live to experience life, and usually what they invest their lives in is total vanity. What they live for doesn’t have spiritual substance that really is a benefit for them neither here and now, nor in eternity. They want entertainment.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.

God wants teens to be happy (rejoice) in their youth, and to enjoy their youth. But God also calls each teen to always remember that God will judge everything that every person does whether they do good or evil. Those things that are good in His sight, God will reward the person, and for the things that are not pleasing in His sight (vanity and emptiness of spiritual value are the same as sinful here), God will punish.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

God calls each teen to remember that his life is a trip, and as this pilgrimage begins, then it will run, and then it will be over. In the end, life is not so beautiful and “fun” as it was in the beginning. In the end, we will have to face God our Creator, who gave us this life and all in it, and then we will have to make an accounting with Him. Also notice that there are specific sins for youth, and these are to be afflicted (frustrated), bitterness, sorrow (vexation or anger), etc. These specific sins are what commonly occur among teens in their road to adulthood. These come from not wanting to accept or receive the spiritual guides God has set in one’s life, counselors which God has established to care for and guide teens, counselors like parents, teachers, and pastors that have experience, wisdom, and the principles of God to help them. God commands teens to get rid of these sins, to submit themselves to God, to His principles and commands, and to respect the authorities which God establishes in their life to safely guide them into the ways of God.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

God has put your parents in your life as a divine authority to protect and guide you until you gain sufficient wisdom and experience to make all of your decisions for yourself. This is not to say that they are dictators in your life forever, but your parents are spiritual guides to guide you in the way of God, and to protect you from problems and dangers, especially spiritual ones. When you pay attention to this authority and obey them, then God promises you “wellness” and “long life”. The attitude itself of seeking wise counsel from older people, people who are wiser and have more experience than you in a matter (even though you may be an adult) is a wise character trait that permits God to help you by wise and godly counsel.  Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.” Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Many teens live frustrated lives in agony because they refuse to accept that they simply don’t know about things, they are not all wise, and they refuse to seek sound and wise counsel before making decisions or acting.

Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.”




The Main Problem of Teens

A teen’s main problem is that in a way, they are adults with adult problems at times, and consequences that are fully adult problems, and yet in another way, they are children, because they lack the wisdom and experience to deal with these adult tasks. For example, in Proverbs 7, Solomon presents us with the picture of a young man who passes by a harlot, all pretty and advertising herself with offers of sex, and he is easy prey to her. In reflection, it is observed in Proverbs 7:7, that he was “void of understanding.” The teen is marked with the state of “opening his eyes to the world” but still not understanding how all this works, especially the dangers, tricks, traps, and the deceitfulness of sin and sinful men. Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. Teens are tripped up because of their own character. They see, they want, they take immediately, and without reflection of the consequences or problems that may come of their actions, they act. If something is new, attractive, or desirous for a teen, he wants it, and his reasoning stops right there. God counsels teens that they go slowly with life, analyzing everything in the light of the Word of God to find wise counsel from wise Christians who have experience, wisdom, and personal victory in their own lives.




Be Wise and Learn

Proverbs 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The book of Proverbs is a book of pure wisdom, given specifically from God to youth, so that they are intelligent and have discretion. Discretion is to handle a thing with a plan, closely examining and thinking through the wisdom or folly of doing it, not just taking things as they happen, but with principles, guidance, and with the purpose of it ending well (for his own benefit and in God’s will).

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish.
Psalms 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [are] ever with me.

It is possible that a teen may be wiser than the most intelligent and wisest adult, but this will only happen when he is totally saturated with the Word of God, and he understands it very well, and follows it with all his heart. Temper tantrums and wild rebellious actions work against this.

Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Obeying the Word of God and the will of God are where true wisdom and understanding begin. This commitment to obeying God’s will in all things allows God through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide a person into all wisdom.

Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. A wise teen is highly occupied and busy about knowing God’s will and not sinning, obeying God, and following the morality that God imposes over us, and being found pleasing in His sight.




Youth, Trust in God

Psalms 71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth. 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

What gives the blessing of God on somebody is his faith in God. This faith also includes your confidence in God’s counsels, positions, standards, and commandments, that they are wise and useful (beneficial) to you every moment of every day. It is a grave problem of youth (and older people) when they see their own judgment and will as better than God’s instructions on a matter. They see Christianity as a product of their parents, and “that generation” which is not “their generation.” They don’t understand that Christianity is really a relationship with God, with Jesus Christ their Saviour, and that many adults that have no such relationship pretend to be Christians and ruin their own lives and the lives of others around them. Also, they forget that everybody can make mistakes. This happens when one is responsible, but they forget to seek God’s will and wisdom before acting. They forget that everyone, young and old, will have to make account with God one day for everything they have said and done. (Romans 14:12) You are not responsible for other’s actions, but for your own. Trust God, follow Him, believe in the goodness of God, and God’s ways, and you will be happy and blessed always.

Version 1 – 2011

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Author Pastor David Cox

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fam06 Training our Kids

Training our Kids
By David Cox
[fam06] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This tract may be freely reproduced for non-profit use.

The Bible in Malachi 2:15 mentions that God hates divorce God “seeks a godly seed.” God commands us very clearly about our children, that we should guide them in the way of God so that they would be saved and serving God. This is not optional, and the manner of doing it is likewise not optional. Some say that they will wait until their kids are adults and let them choose for themselves. This only lets the world educate your children as Satan and our sinful nature would have it.

The obligation to train them

Eph. 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

This verse commands us to bring them up, doing it the correct way against the incorrect (provoke to wrath). “Nurture” means the act of providing direction to live responsibly in this world. “Admonition” means to counsel about stopping or avoid incorrect or improper conduct based on what God has said in His Word. It is a warning in what should or should not be done. Paul commented that Timothy was wise through his knowledge of the Scriptures (2Tim 3:15), and that this is exactly what the Scriptures do when we study them and apply them to our lives. We should do this as adults, but parents equally should do this for their children until they are able to do it for themselves. The OT is full of examples of these types of exhortations (Deu 4:9; 6:7; Psa 78:3-6).

Love demands Discipline

Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7…for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? The principal point here is that the parent receives the child as his own only if he disciplines the child. The motive for correcting and disciplining our children is not just to chastise them, but to correct their lives so that God doesn’t have to punish them more severely later in their lives. It is love that forces one to discipline, and that has to begin at a young age Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. The child should always hear “we discipline you, because we love you.”

Goals in Disciplining

This instruction is not information only, but it is information about the will of God through the Scriptures (2Tim 3:15) such that it changes his being, his character, his attitude, and his will. This teaching is to help him stop sinning, and it should come from his parents (Pro 1:8-10), and be focused on his fulfilling the will of God (Pro 4:1-4), and recognizing the parents moral values and obeying them by following the pattern of their lives. In the Bible this is “living” so as to obtain eternal life. Isa 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Psa 78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. The end or purpose of training our children is so that we pass our Christian faith to them, so that they may be saved, and not forget God, so that they will keep the commandments of God and walk in faithfulness with God.

Respect for Authority:

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. God promises us that if we honor and respect our parents that God himself will extend our lives on the earth. Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme. In other words, the will of God is that we have respect for all in authority, especially the elderly and our own parents.

Control of One’s Self:

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. The person who cannot control his own spirit is a threat to society, and is condemned to suffer under the hand of God and the civil authorities. Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. What God imposes in our lives (and in the lives of our children) is that we deny ourselves, and suffer the hard things in order to comply with God’s wishes. Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Human character without the influence of God is totally devoid of moral character, and this is seen by the foolish things of the world in his life. Men dedicate themselves to make the biggest ball of rubber bands in the world, as is seen constantly on Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” presenting time after time. Where is the eternal value in such foolishness? What importance will today’s sports have in 100 years? None. Most people hardly even remember it a year later.

Resisting bad influences.

1 Cor. 15:33 says “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” The goal here is to teach our children to recognize and resist bad influences in the world, their friends, fashions, television, what they see, etc. It is good to remember that the saved are a remnant (Rom. 9:27), and we will never be in the majority or the popular.

To be a server, not selfish

Phil. 2:3 Do nothing out of strife or vainglory; rather with humility, each one estimating the others as superior to himself; 4 not looking each one for his own, but each one also for the others. Part of finding God’s will and staying with it is seeing what God wants from our character. It is Satan’s spirit (Isaiah 14:12-15) to exalt oneself. Prov. 27:2 Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. To be a mature adult Christian who is pleasing to God, one has to focus one’s life on serving others and not being served, seeking to saturate oneself with sensual delights and pleasures.

Spirit of not complaining, but doing everything with a good heart, as for the Lord: Here we see the attitude of the child. Many times your child may agree to do what you tell him to do, but he does not do it in a good spirit, but with murmuring and conflict. Phil. 2:14 Do everything without grumbling and disputing. Col 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Here we see that God fixes the attitude of our hearts when we do something, even things that seem insignificant to us. Our Christian faith shines through even our “insignificant” activities in our lives because we have joy, peace, and encouragement in everything we do.

We must include here also Job 9:27 “I will forget my complaint, I will leave my sad countenance, and I will strive.” Part of having the right attitude is not to float when it’s something you don’t want to do. One must do what he does with joy of heart, and this joy must be manifested outwardly.

How do we do it?

We must focus on some methods that God has sent for us to instruct our children. The first is for being the spiritual example for our children. The truth is that everything one can say or instruct a child is for nothing if the person teaching him is a hypocrite in his own life before God. The vision that God gives us about this is to take them where we are going. Genesis 18:19 For I know that (Abraham) will command his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord, doing justice and judgment… Abraham’s example is that an obedient believer will always command his own house in the ways of God. This is about the most important thing there is (apart from his own salvation). The influence of a holy life is what changes people. Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We also see the good example of Joshua in showing dedication and decision in following God and in training his children in the things of God.

Second, we must see that training our children has a moral character. In other words, we are not only dealing with behavior, but also what causes this behavior. Prov. 22: 6 Train up a child in his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. The word “instructs” comes from the word “palate”. It refers to the custom of mothers when a newborn does not want to drink milk from her breast. He puts honey or sweets on his palate, and if he wants more, he drinks his mother’s milk. This is probably the first thing such a creature learns. Thus the training is to deal with moral principles and rules. This implies that no father can train his children well without going to the Holy Scriptures, studying and teaching them. Sometimes people try to impose morals without reference to the Bible, and this always fails.

Third, we must understand that God commands us to discipline our children in order to impose these moral teachings on them. The point is not to punish them for their bad behavior, but to change their spirit and appearance to obey God. Prov. 3:12 For the LORD punishes the one he loves, as a father punishes the son he loves. Prov. 13:24 He who spares punishment hates his son, but he who loves him corrects him early.

More Tracts from the Family Category

Author Pastor David Cox

Pastor David Cox

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fam15 Always late for the house of God

Always Late for the House of God
By David Cox
[fam15] v1 ©2008 www www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit use

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Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Col 4:5

We ask ourselves at times why some of our brethren always arrive late to the house of God. The world we live in grows more complicated and entangled every day, and the demands on our lives and time also grow every day. At times it seems that we will never reach something what appears like peace and tranquility. When we touch on this problem, it is only tip of the iceberg.

We need to take time to reflect and meditate on what we are doing, how we live our lives, and above all, how we relate to our God. The plan and work of Satan is to never allow us peace and calm so that we can reflect, meditate, and order our lives after what pleases God.




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fam16 Christmas: Is it for Christians?

Christmas: Is it for Christians?

By David Cox
[fam16] v1 ©2008 www.coxtracts.com




Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen…

Coming to the end of the year, many people begin to think about Christmas. There are many traditions around Christmas, and it is important that we analyze all these traditions and customs in the light of the Bible so we do blindly follow ignorant people into pagan traditions.




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fam19 Is remarriage permitted after divorce?

Is Remarriage Permitted after a Divorce?
By David Cox
[fam19] v1 ©2009 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes

Mark 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

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fam62 How to be a Feminine Woman

fam62 How to be a Feminine Woman examines femininity from a Bible perspective. It compares homosexuals being feminine.

fam62 How to be a Feminine Woman examines femininity from a Bible perspective. It compares homosexuals being feminine.

By David Cox

[fam62] v1 ©2023 www.coxtracts.com
You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes.

Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

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fam13 Polygamy: Is it biblical to have multiple spouses?

Polygamy

Polygamy: Is it biblical to have multiple spouses?

By David Cox

[FAM13] v1r ©2008 www.coxtracts.com/fam13
This brochure can be freely photocopied and printed

This tract, Polygamy, examines the practice and thinking of some groups that espouse multiple marriage partners as being biblical. While the practice is found in parts of the Bible, it is not condoned by God. TOPICS: The Plan of God | The Attack Against Marriage | Polygamy among the Patriarchs | God overlooked Man’s Disobedience | The New Testament Pattern | Adultery, Two wives at the same time




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fam01 Biblical love: How Christians should love

Biblical Love: How a Christian should Love
By David Cox
[Fam01] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit purposes.

There are at least 4 different Greek words for love that identify different types of love. Each one puts an emphasis on a different sense in the general concept of love.




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