“TEENAGE YEARS”

(Before You Do)

New Life Bible Church

July 20

, 2008

Allen S. McLauchlin, Pastor

Foolish is bound up in the heart of a child. (teenager) Proverb 22:15

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.  He was wiser than any other man.  1 Kings 4:29

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;  I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my work,  and this was the reward for all my labor.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done  and what I had toiled to achieve,  everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;  nothing was gained under the sun. . Ecclesiastes 2:10,11

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:  "Meaningless! Meaningless!"  says the Teacher.  "Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless."  What does man gain from all his labor  at which he toils under the sun, if he does not have God. Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 

NOTE:  Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as a preacher, a parent, and not as a King.  He wanted to warn future generations the bitterness of learning through mistakes. 

1.  Kindness shown means KINDNESS returned.

Cast your bread upon the waters,  for after many days you will find it again.  Ecclesiastes 11:1

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  Deuteronomy 15:10

Be kind not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.  For this finds favor God.  1 Peter 2:18,19

2. Learn to _DIVERSITY_ all aspects of you life and don’t make adult decisions to early in life.

Give portions to seven, yes to eight,  for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.  If clouds are full of water,  they pour rain upon the earth.  Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,  in the place where it falls, there will it lie.  Ecclesiastes 11:2,3

A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.  A time to love, and a time to wait. Ecclesiastes 3:5,8

3.  Aim for the stars and don’t be afraid to __DREAM___  big .

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;  whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.  As you do not know the path of the wind,  or how the body is formed  in a mother's womb ,or know how life enters the body ,  so you cannot understand the work of God,  the Maker of all things.  Sow your seed in the morning,  and at evening let not your hands be idle,  for you do not know which will succeed,  whether this or that,  or whether both will do equally well.  Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

4.   Enjoy your youthfulness but remember there are __CONSEQUENCES_ for negative behavior. 

Rejoice, young man, (woman) during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of youth. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.  So, remove vexation from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.  Ecclesiastes 11:9,10

5.  Knowing God is the only __GUARANTEE__ the life will be meaningful.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: reverence  God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person, (especially teenagers) .                           Ecclesiastes 12:13