The Young and the Reckless

The struggles of our young people in a world that is swallowing them up with its own desires have no end in sight, at least not until a new age and civilization set in. The same holds true for all human beings.

However, there has been much talk about the propensity of our young to abandon the God of the Bible in pursuit of what the world has to offer. The church, in its response, has devised and continues to employ new strategies aimed at luring our young people back to the fold or to help those who have remained not to attempt to leave, but to find the church as a home for their search to find answers to many questions about the physical and the spiritual. Nevertheless, young people continue to leave the church for more secular interests.

What is out there for young people? It’s the same for everyone – hopelessness, happiness is but for a fleeting moment, materialism abounds, answers to life’s most puzzling questions seem elusive, and secularism has become the new god. All is vanity, the Bible advises, and the reckless way some people live their lives, has not escaped our young impressionable ones.

The universities are turning out a bunch of educated atheists and agnostics and young people hostile to God and the Bible. The latter appears to be outdated and the former is not relevant in today’s technological age when just about any pleasure many seek is available at a fingertip. There’s no need for God, many would argue.

On the other hand, lack of purpose has led to restlessness and a never-ending search to find new heights in the search for some kind of happiness. Recklessness has led to restlessness, confusion, irresponsible behaviour, and other weaknesses that have become typical in young adult years; drug abuse is at the top of the list, and often suicide is seen as the only way out. What’s the solution?

First of all, our young people must come to the realization that there is a God in Heaven who rules from a sovereign throne. He’s the Creator of all things. No one created life except God. We didn’t create ourselves, thus the Creator owns everything.

We were all young at one point. We had all the energy we needed, we hardly got sick, we thought we knew more than anyone else, believed that we needed advice from no one, not even our parents, and most of all we didn’t need God. God is for old people.

When we are young, we tend to live as if we are immortal, we cannot die; we risk all the dangerous things you can think about because we are invulnerable. Once we begin to earn a few dollars, we are bigger than our peers in stature and in thought.

Most young people find church boring. It’s no wonder interest in God among adults is dropping faster each year, especially in the Western world.

The Pew Research Center, which is the most respected when it comes to studying current trends in religion says in a recent study, “Most people around the world claim a religious identity, such as Christian, Muslim or Hindu. But there is a clear age gap: Out of 106 countries surveyed, young adults are significantly less likely to be affiliated with a religious group in 41. In only two countries are young adults more likely to identify with a religion, while there is no significant difference in 63 countries.

Younger adults in many different parts of the world are less likely than their elders to say that religion is “very important” to them. This is a particularly prevalent theme in Latin America, where age gaps appear in 14 out of 19 countries. It is also common in Europe, where 19 out of 35 countries show significant gaps. The United States and Canada also post larger-than-average differences.”

What is happening to our young people when it comes to God? Another study says, virtually all of those who dropped out (96 percent) listed a change in their life situation as a reason for their dropping out. That change could be a job, marriage, relationships, or pursuing careers.

The church has been given the commission to preach the gospel to the world, and this includes young people. The Bible has warned young people about their young days and how they relate to God.

In the closing admonition to his readers, the book of philosophy, a subject which many young people study in university, devoted this chapter to the young people.

In Ecclesiastes 11:9, the author turns his attention to the young man as he addresses the proper attitude of young people. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

The book tells young people to “follow the ways of your heart” (Ecclesiastes 11:9)—but with the important knowledge that God will judge all actions. Young people must wake up to this reality that whatever they do, the God of Heaven is going to hold them accountable for their actions. Chapter 12 comes with a reminder. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^[a]difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them.

Young people, do not forget God! Always remember that! We are aware that our youth is a golden time in one’s life. But the Bible warns there is a tendency to forget God. If they do, they will become reckless and restless. Until they find God, life truly has no meaning. Is this the dilemma facing our young people today?

Young people, not because you are growing bigger and getting more mature, it means you are bigger than God and don’t need him.  Not because you may be studying big subjects such as anthropology, medicine, the sciences, and so on, it means you are bigger than God. Again.

 ⁶Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ^[b]loosed, or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well.
⁷ Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

We all must die. What will matter then at death? Did you forget God because of the reckless way you lived your life after your parents reared you in the knowledge of God?  The blood will be off their shoulders if they carry out their God-given duty of bringing you up in the knowledge and fear of God. The blood is now on your shoulder. Remember, you will be held accountable.

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 1:7 says that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Remember, the desires of your heart should be guided in a Godly way. Remember, you are responsible for your actions, not your parents.  At the same time, young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do, especially if he’s calling you at a young age, and especially if you have been exposed to his truth through your parents. You better know that God will judge your actions. For more on this subject download FREE our pamphlet, FATHER’S HEART TO THE CHILDREN.