MAKING THE MOST IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH

"The child shows the man as morning shows the day." - (John Milton, 1671)

There is a poem attributed to an unknown monk who lived circa 1300 AD. The poem goes like this: 

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

 The days of youth are times when great visions and dreams well up in the heart and mind of a young person. When these dreams and visions are not incubated and nursed with the right knowledge and the required steps to take,  they tend to become a mirage. The youthful stage is a critical time for any person because this is the stage where habits are formed and the foundation for the future is laid.

"twenty children do not play for twenty years because by twenty years time, they will be in twenty different classes or places."

This simply means those you started in life with when you were young will not be there forever. It will get to a point when each one must find where he/she belongs.If you watch life pass you by today in this youthful stage, you may live to regret it tomorrow.

 "if you are not tough on yourself today, life may be rough for you tomorrow". - Dr. David Oyedepo 

In taking a look at biblical examples, King David took responsibility in the days of his youth by being a shepherd boy in the wilderness, as he learned the skills of being a leader. Also, it was recorded that he behaved himself wisely (1 Samuel 18:5), more wisely (v 14) and very wisely (v 15) as a young person which caused King Saul to be afraid of him. Job also behaved himself wisely in the days of his youth by devoting himself to the ways of God. As recorded in Job 29:4, 

"Just as I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle." 

The secret of God upon his tabernacle is what made him to command exploits when he grew up.

Our perfect example, Christ Jesus also took responsibility in the days of his youth and it was recorded in Luke 2:40 

"And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." 

It was also recorded that He increased in wisdom and stature, and was in favour with God and man (Luke 2:42,52). It is not surprising that all these were said about Him because as a young boy, Jesus was found in the temple discussing scriptures with the doctors of the law (Luke 2:46-47).

The youthful stage is the time when you are filled with so much strength and zest with which you can invest a lot into your future.

"..... I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." - 1 John 2:14 (KJV)

The truth is, certain things you are able to easily do today may not come handy in some years to come. The Word of God admonishes us in Lamentation 3:27, 

"It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth." (NKJV)

Everyone has a yoke to bear in life and that yoke can also be seen as responsibility. How well each one bears this yoke is what makes the difference in life. The right time to bear that yoke is in the days of your youth.

You must not wait to commit so many mistakes in life before you start desiring to take responsibility. It may be late! Being young is not the time to engage in youthful exuberance and ebullience. These are times of habit formation, foundation laying and vision rearing. The things you get engaged in today, determines the bearing of your future tomorrow. As John Milton rightly said in the opening quote, 

"the child shows the man as morning shows the day."

How is the life you are living today showing the outcome of your future?

In the next post, we will be looking at the ways or how we can effectively make the most in the days of our youth. 

Live in such a way that the whole of heaven and earth will be glad and rejoice for your being here. Cheers!!!