Foundations (part 1 of 2) - Youth: A Time for Laying Foundations!
One of the most memorable portions of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is his conclusion. He described the difference between those who hear his words and do them and those who hear and do not. Of all the people Jesus described, the children of God’s faithful are in a very unique position. For hearing the words of Jesus from youth they must make that choice.
Some like Timothy, while hearing the word, gain the same sincere faith that led their parents and/or grandparents to obey the gospel and remain faithful (2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy’s grandmother and mother made certain that “from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14-15). These children learn not only from their family, but also from the faithful brethren they attend with. Elders, preachers, teachers, and other edifying influences helping them lay a good foundation.
Other children, listening to the same sermons, having the same Bible class teachers and the same faithful brethren allow peer pressure, love for this world or youthful lusts to dull their hearts so “their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed” (Mt. 13:15). Faith cannot grow in such a heart, so they either hear not or hear and do not.
Jesus likened the first teen or young adult “to a wise man who built his house on the rock” and promised that such preparations would save his “house” through all the storms of life. The second group of young people though given the same words did nothing with them. Jesus compared them to “a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” He warned that without this foundation, the storms of life would ultimately bring their “house” to destruction (Mt. 7:24-26).
Youth is the time to build foundations. It is the only chance we ever have to: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecc. 12:1). The inexorable movement of the sands of time change youth to middle age to elderly far more quickly than we can imagine, so “childhood and youth are vanity” (Ecc. 11:10). The limitless choices of youth gradually narrow to one destination: “it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
Between youth and judgment, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Solomon spoke to his “son” again and again about this truth. “My son, hear... receive my words... do not forget my law... let them not depart from your eyes... give attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings” (Pr. 1:8; 2:1; 3:1, 21; 4:20). With this foundation, “you will... understand the fear of the Lord... discretion will preserve you... length of days and long life and peace they will add to you... so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man... you will walk safely... they are life to those who find them.” (Pr. 2:5, 11, 3:2, 4, 23; 4:22).
While parents certainly have a responsibility to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), it is the children who are responsible to make good use of their youth. No one is a victim. Everyone has freewill! Those who “dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” will find their lives filled with the blessings promised by the Spirit in Proverbs. Those “who heard and did nothing” are like a man who “built a house on the ground without a foundation” (Lk. 6:48-49). Having squandered their youth, they will reap as they have sown.
Whether we were raised by godly parents or must set aside the “aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers” (1 Pet. 1:18), we all lay the same foundation for “no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). If we lay this foundation in our youth, we can spend the rest of our lives building a house of purity, holiness and godliness being a blessing to all who know us. If we do not, we will pay the terrible price for not having one.
Some like Timothy, while hearing the word, gain the same sincere faith that led their parents and/or grandparents to obey the gospel and remain faithful (2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy’s grandmother and mother made certain that “from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14-15). These children learn not only from their family, but also from the faithful brethren they attend with. Elders, preachers, teachers, and other edifying influences helping them lay a good foundation.
Other children, listening to the same sermons, having the same Bible class teachers and the same faithful brethren allow peer pressure, love for this world or youthful lusts to dull their hearts so “their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed” (Mt. 13:15). Faith cannot grow in such a heart, so they either hear not or hear and do not.
Jesus likened the first teen or young adult “to a wise man who built his house on the rock” and promised that such preparations would save his “house” through all the storms of life. The second group of young people though given the same words did nothing with them. Jesus compared them to “a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” He warned that without this foundation, the storms of life would ultimately bring their “house” to destruction (Mt. 7:24-26).
Youth is the time to build foundations. It is the only chance we ever have to: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecc. 12:1). The inexorable movement of the sands of time change youth to middle age to elderly far more quickly than we can imagine, so “childhood and youth are vanity” (Ecc. 11:10). The limitless choices of youth gradually narrow to one destination: “it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
Between youth and judgment, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Solomon spoke to his “son” again and again about this truth. “My son, hear... receive my words... do not forget my law... let them not depart from your eyes... give attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings” (Pr. 1:8; 2:1; 3:1, 21; 4:20). With this foundation, “you will... understand the fear of the Lord... discretion will preserve you... length of days and long life and peace they will add to you... so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man... you will walk safely... they are life to those who find them.” (Pr. 2:5, 11, 3:2, 4, 23; 4:22).
While parents certainly have a responsibility to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), it is the children who are responsible to make good use of their youth. No one is a victim. Everyone has freewill! Those who “dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” will find their lives filled with the blessings promised by the Spirit in Proverbs. Those “who heard and did nothing” are like a man who “built a house on the ground without a foundation” (Lk. 6:48-49). Having squandered their youth, they will reap as they have sown.
Whether we were raised by godly parents or must set aside the “aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers” (1 Pet. 1:18), we all lay the same foundation for “no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). If we lay this foundation in our youth, we can spend the rest of our lives building a house of purity, holiness and godliness being a blessing to all who know us. If we do not, we will pay the terrible price for not having one.