Introduction

The Apostle Paul was inspired to address young men in the 1st century, giving them wise counsel that will guide and direct them in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Today, we need the same exhortation desperately. Many of our youths are seduced by diabolical interests and the immorality of the times and strayed away from the Lord and many Christian parents have a difficult time with their teenagers. I would like to take the opportunity to address the spiritual concerns of young people in the light of the Holy Scriptures. 

Pauline Exhortation

In Tit 2:6-8, Paul exhorts young men to be sober-minded and not be flippant and light-hearted. Frivolity and superficiality can be used to describe our youths today. Those caught up with dancing in the pub, drinking alcohol, watching questionable movies, chatting with strangers in internet virtual chatrooms and reading unedifying blogs with unedifying themes, hanging out in shopping centres, gossiping and making fun of the opposite sex and other senseless and flippant activities. Young people are exhorted also to guard their tongues and ensure that their conversations are edifying (Col 4:6). This includes both verbal, non-verbal and written communication in either email or SMS. 1 Tim 4:12 says Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 

They are also to show forth good character which is the fruit of the Spirit, given in Gal 5:22,23. They are to exhibit a pattern of good works (verse 7) in edifying demeanour, that is, grace with sincerity and showing sound doctrine in their decorum. They are to apply doctrine and the moral teachings of the Word, as in the 10 Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount and other biblical practical themes. Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Particular Concerns for Youths in a Godless World

There are special threats and dangers that young people need to be careful of today. These include the music we hear, the movies or television programmes we watch or the internet website or chatroom that we go to. We need to be careful because there is great spiritual danger in being obsessed and enthralled by these worldly interest and pastime that do not build up the fear of God nor a desire for holiness and the knowledge of the Lord. Paul warns in 2 Cor 7:1 says Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

Beware of the programmes that are being touted to you by advertisement and attractive campaign like the latest music videos, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, pubs or the latest soap opera, drama, comedy in the night that has unedifying elements in it (that is, gossip, meaningless chatter, drinking, smoking, vulgar language etc); movie and television watching that has violence, horror and promiscuity like Desperate Housewives, American/ Singapore Idol, Charmed, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter and Star Wars.

We need to reject to such unhelpful influences that may corrupt our hearts and minds and draw us into an immoral or unethical lifestyle. Rather Paul says in Rom 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

What kind of Friends should One Choose?

Choose friends who will benefit your soul, friends whom you can really respect, friends whom you would like to have near you on your death-bed, friends who live out the Bible and are not afraid to speak to you about it, friends such as you will not be ashamed of owning at the coming of Christ. Follow the example that David sets you: he says, I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts (Ps 119:63) and he has Jonathan as his best friend and Daniel has three god-fearing friends (Dan 3:12). Remember the word of Solomon: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Prov 13:20). As bad company in life is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come in eternal condemnation. 

Think of the unspeakable comfort and joy you will give to parents, relations, and friends, if you obey God’s counsel. They have expended time, money, and health to rear you and make you what you are. Surely they deserve some consideration and respect. Who can reckon up the joy and gladness which young people have in their power? Who can tell the anxiety and sorrow that sons like Esau and Hophni and Phinehas and Absalom might cause to their parents? Truly indeed does Solomon say, A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother (Prov 10:1). Give God your heart today for out of it are the issues of life (Prov 4:23)! Let it not be said of you one day that your life was a blunder, your manhood a struggle and your old age a regret.” 

Think of the good that you can do for Christ. Almost all the most eminent saints of God sought the Lord early (Prov 5:3, Dan 6:10). Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, all served God from their youth. God delights in bestowing special honour upon young servants; remember the honour He placed upon young David who fought the giant Goliath (1 Sam 18). Young men, do pray about consecrating the springtime of your lives to God by serving Him! Preachers are wanted now in almost every great and good cause, and cannot be found. There is much evangelism and administrative work for spreading the truth but there are no hands to work at it. Ministers are wanted for new churches, missionaries are wanted for new stations, teachers are wanted for Sunday School; but the supply of godly, faithful, trustworthy men, for posts like those above is far below the demand. (Dr Tow Siang Hwa just mentioned to the author that he is looking for a Pastor for a foreign mission station and a preacher/staffworker for another Bible-Presbyterian Church).  

Serving God, not Pleasure

Young men of the present day, you are wanted by God. This is peculiarly an age of great spiritual activity. We might not be sleeping in apathy and indifference about others. We are our brothers’ keeper. A wide harvest field is open before you if you are only willing to enter upon it. The harvest is great and the labourers are few (Matt 9:37). Be zealous of good works. Come to the help of the Lord in the Church and mission work. There is much to be done for the Lord in His Church and home today in evangelism, prayer, fellowship, Bible Study, service and administrative chores (Act 6:1-4, Ps 119:68). This is the way to follow the steps of your Lord and Saviour: Consider the testimony of our Lord, who is described, He went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  

Young men, beware of the ill-effects that pleasure produces and all the ways in which it will do you harm. Beware of worldly revelling, smoking, feasting, drinking alcohol, gambling, theatre-going, dancing and the like. Few are to be found who do not know something of these things by bitter experience. All things that give a feeling of excitement for the time being; that drown sobriety and keep the mind in constant whirl, which please the senses, gratify the flesh and occupies your time of life in worldly pleasures. Be on your guard. Be not like those of whom Paul speaks, Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Tim 3:4) and like Demas forsake God for the world (2 Tim 4:10). 

If you cleave to earthly pleasure; these are the things which destroy souls. There is no surer way to get a seared conscience and a hard impenitent heart than to give way to the desires of the flesh and mind. It seems nothing at first but it has disastrous results in the end. Repent of your sins and be ye reconciled with God before it is too late!

Consider what Peter says: Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (1 Pet 2:11). Sin has the potential to destroy the soul’s peace, break down its spiritual strength, lead it into hard captivity and make the person a slave to Satan and an enemy of God.

Consider what Paul says: Mortify your members which are upon the earth (Col 3:5). They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts (Gal 5:24). Once the body was a perfect mansion of the soul; now it is all corrupt, disordered and needs constant watching. It is a burden to the soul, not a helpmeet; a hindrance, not an assistance. It may be a useful servant but it is always a bad master. 

Godly Company

Be careful in your choice of friends for they will influence you indirectly. Do not open all your heart to a man or woman merely because he or she is clever, agreeable, good-looking, high-spirited and fun. These things may well be in their way but they are not everything. Never be satisfied with the friendship of any one who will not be useful to your soul in the end.  

The importance of this advice cannot be overrated. There is no telling the harm that is done by associating with godless companions and friends. The devil has a few better helps in ruining a man’s soul than worthless and godless friends. 2 Tim 2:22 says, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Like Daniel have godly friends that will pray together with you (Dan 2:18). 

Good education, early habits of morality, good sermons, edifying books, regular home devotions will avail you little, if you cling to ungodly friends. You may resist many open temptations, refuse many plain snares but once you take up a bad companion, there is imminent spiritual disaster. That awful chapter which describes Amnon’s wicked conduct about Tamar, begins with these words, But Amnon had a friend, a very subtle man (2 Sam 13:3) and that leads to destruction. 

Evil communications do indeed corrupt good manners (1 Cor 15:33). Good friends are among our greatest blessing; they may keep us back from much evil, quicken us in our course, speak a fitting word in season, draw us upward to God and lead us on to greater faith. But a bad friend is a sure misfortune, a weight continually dragging and chaining us to bad habits. Keep company with an irreligious man and it is more than probable you will in the end become like him. That is the general consequence of all such friendships. The good goes down to the bad and the bad does not come up to the good. A rotten apple corrupts the rest and not vice versa. The Proverb is correct: “Clothes and company tell true tales about character.” Solomon in Prov 17:17 says, A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity and Prov 27:6 says, Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

Conclusion

This is a depraved and fallen world and there are many dangers that confront young people today. Be careful and vigilant as you grow in your walk of faith as Satan will try to allure and seduce you into sin, darkness and cause you to fall into bondage of sin again if he can. We need the full armour of God to withstand in the evil day (Eph 6:10-12). May the Lord preserve, protect and keep our youths from the prevalent moral and spiritual corruption in the world today.

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