Some of the problems facing teenagers and youth in my modern society are about Faith and beliefs.
- Timothy 4:12-15
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.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
This is Apostle Paul's teaching and command to those in their newness and youthful stage of life.
He instructed them to be a model and fashion to others in their way of communication, behavior, love, in spirit that is who they are in Christ, in faith that's what their beliefs and absolute truth of God, and in purity.
A young person is to apply oneself to reading, comfort others, and keep receiving instruction, learning to stay in the place of relevance and be useful to God and society.
In all these aspects of life, the young face societal problems that try to affect their Faith and beliefs, thereby limiting their usefulness to God and their immediate society.
By the grace, I honour the invitation I had to speak to teenagers and youths on certain problems facing them about faith and belief in society and I point out these viewpoints:
- Ignorance of the Truth about the God they serve:
The sacred text agreed that so many perished for lack of knowledge and also affirmed that those who know their God will be strong.
The ignorance in the heart of the youths about their God has made them wanderers and go for anything that looks like God, which is not.
When you know your God, you will not be moved.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you will do yourself a great favor to know who Jesus Christ (the Mighty God) is to you.
Distraction:
Distraction in studying the word of God, distraction in corporate worship, distraction in little details that can add to their improvement in life, distraction in the place of prayer, distraction everywhere, and otherwise.
Distraction is one of the big enemies of the young ones; overcoming this factor is the beginning of success in life and ministry.
Distraction leads to confusion and a purposeless journey.
To get it right in the sight of God and be useful, we must be focused.Identity Crisis:
A young person must know "who they are" and have a purposeful life on earth.
Some youth are looking for meaning and purpose in the wrong direction.
When a driver who operates an Automobile teaches a pilot who flies an Aeroplane how to fly the plane.
The results will be that both the pilot and the plane will come down to where the Automobile drives on land (clashes).Trying to serve God and money:
God wants his children to have money, but does not want money to have his children.
No one can serve two masters; thus, you can't serve God and money - God should be your master, and money a tool which you use.
Money ought to be a tool we use and not a Master that uses us.
It shouldn't take the place of God, and we shouldn't do everything that our heart condemns us to do to get it.
You can be prosperous without exchanging your soul for it and trading lives for it.Looseness in spirit:
The young folks have to keep their heart diligently and be mindful of what they open up to.
What they open up their heart to and keep practicing it to become their habit can become a stronghold that stops their progress spiritually and otherwise.
Recommendation:
The youthful age is a time to invest in knowledge and stay in the place of learning both from your environment and the experience of the elders.
When the young folk learn and invest in knowing God, who is the ancient of days, they will become wiser than their age and be strong enough to take the future.