A few days ago I attended the funeral of a dear friend. I have known his wife since my children were young. He served as an elder with my husband for many years. His death was not unexpected.

At the funeral, one of the grandsons was asked how he is doing. This is a common question for someone you haven’t seen in a long time. His answer surprised me. He said, “I am just trying to grow up.”

This young man is in his twenties. He is a nice-looking young man, well-dressed, and one arm covered completely in tattoos. He says that he is still trying to grow up.

Solomon said, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV). Solomon is encouraging us to put God first in our lives while we are young. If you continue reading, you can see why. He tells us that the physical problems and natural changes that occur as we age will cause us to say that we have no pleasure in life. Those activities that we think are so pleasurable will have no meaning. All we will have are the memories of a wasted youth, one spent “trying to grow up.”

Many a young man has expressed himself in the same way as this grandson of my friend. The one that comes to my mind is the young man in Luke 15. He demanded his inheritance so that he could travel and be his own man. Of course, we know the outcome of his adventure. He ended up broke, without any friends, without a place to stay and no job. Feeding pigs became his occupation. While feeding the pigs, Luke says he came to himself. We could say that he grew up. He had to face his situation, evaluate his current circumstances, and make a decision. His decision sent him home to a father who loved him and watched for his return. He was forgiven for what he did, but he had the memory of his sins for the rest of his life.

There are other young men who defied the teaching of their youth and had to grow up the hard way. The brothers of Joseph sold their young brother into slavery, lied to their father, and spent many years living with the dishonesty. They finally had to own up to their mistakes; and fortunately for them, Joseph forgave them. They surely couldn’t put out of their minds what they had done.

Absalom, the son of King David, murdered his half-brother and later tried to take the kingdom from his brother, Solomon. He wasn’t lucky enough to get a chance to make things right. Sadly, his father could never see what a sinful young man Absalom had become.

A young man of Lystra was different than these rebellious children. He was trained in the law of the Old Testament by his mother and grandmother. Once he became a Christian, he received instruction from the apostle Paul. There is little information about the specific instruction he received, but there are some things revealed in scripture that let us know what made him one who remembered his Creator in his youth.

• Paul refers to him as, “My own son in the faith” (First Timothy 1:2). Timothy had respect for Paul’s knowledge and experience, and he obeyed the gospel because of this.
• Paul gave him similar instructions to those of Solomon. He said, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (First Timothy 4:12).
• Timothy was continually in Paul’s prayers (Second Timothy 1:3).
• Paul gave him instructions about morality. He said, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (Second Timothy 2:22).
• Paul encouraged Timothy with a warning about the trouble that inevitably comes to everyone. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (Second Timothy 3:12).
• Paul then told Timothy how to withstand the persecution. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (Second Timothy 3:14-15).

There are some values present in these passages that can guide young people to grow up the way God wants them to grow. They can:

• Have respect for those who are knowledgeable and experienced.
• Don’t “sow wild oats” with the idea you have plenty of time to be good. You might not have as much time as you think.
• Ask people to pray for you.
• Understand that good moral values are important when you are young.
• Know that the Christian life will not be easy.
• Treasure your youth. Don’t waste it on “riotous living.”
• Know that you will have to live with the memories of your indiscretions.

Three verses from Ecclesiastes give young people the formula for growing up. The first is to rejoice in the time of youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Second, remember your Creator in your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Third, reverence God. Fear Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” 

Sandra Oliver