Young Dudes: Take Your Life Seriously

4 MIN READ ◦ DOUG GILES

“In the same way, urge the young men to behave carefully, taking life seriously.”

- Titus 2:6 (TLB)

Paul tells Titus to command young men, exhorting them to be sober-minded. Young men are to be free from intoxicating influences. And we’re not just talking about booze and dope but worldviews that are demonic. Young squire, you are to be free from pressures to conform to that which is not according to God’s will and way.

Herewith are five reasons young men should be sober-minded.

One. God commands you to be, duh. That’s not a suggestion. That’s a command. To not be sober-minded is to sin. If you’re not sharp, solid, and smart…ie. sober-minded…you’re sinning. That’s what you call not loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. God commands you in the most urgent manner, to be sober-minded in your youth. Guess what young dude, you get to decide whether or not you will obey that injunction. Go ahead. Ignore it. And let’s see what happens to you in the next twenty years.

Two. Why be sober-minded? Well, death and judgment are waiting for young men, not just us old cats. We all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. I’ve seen many young men die. Just because you’re young it doesn’t mean you’re invincible. Nothing is promised to you, years-wise. We don’t know when we will spring off this mortal coil. The day of your death could be just around the corner. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all (that includes young males) appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Three. So, young men, why be sober-minded? Well, aside from it’s commanded and death and judgment await you and nothing’s really promised as far as life-span goes; Another bueno reason is this: What you are now, more than likely, you will be later. Young idiots morph into old idiots. Young drunks turn into old drunks. Young perverts become old liver-spotted lecherous men. Yep, barring a true conversion, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you’ll just become older and worse. A leopard cannot change its spots (Jer. 13:23). Here’s a question for you? Would you like to get on what God’s doing now or wait ‘til you’re 60 and bald and tired? Most young fools say, “I’ll get serious about God later. Y’know, after I’ve sowed some wild oats.” But the scripture says today’s the day of salvation (2Cor. 6:2). You don’t know at all what tomorrow holds (James 4:13,14). Personally, I’m so glad God karate-chopped me when I was young. I’d be dead or in prison if it weren’t for a massive clean Holy Ghost break from my young sin-lovin’ demonic flesh.

Four. Why should young men be sober-minded? Here’s a good reason: 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” If you’re goofy and thoughtless the devil will make certain you’re road- kill on the Highway to Hell. Here’s an FYI to the young males: Satan is here to steal from you, kill you, and de- stroy you (Jn. 10:10) and he operates by stealth, just like a lion. So, sobriety of spirit is a must, young man. By the way, your typical young man isn’t aware of Satan’s desire to destroy him forever. If you do not resist him, like Peter said, he’ll walk all over you and yours. Again 1 Peter 5:8. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Five. Serving God now, when you’re a young man, will save you from unnecessary and massive heartaches, regrets, and demonic bondages. I got converted when I was twenty-one after nearly a decade of drug and alcohol abuse and criminal activity. The crowd I was running with blew off my appeals to them to repent, turn to Christ, and turn their back on sin and Satan. The carnage several of them lived through up into their fifties was brutal. Some of my old buddies did get converted but the hell they underwent was the stuff of Stephen King novels.

Ergo, young man, my advice to you is to follow Paul’s admonition and be sober-minded and joyfully and wholeheartedly take your life seriously.

The preceding was plucked from my book: Lionhearted: Making Young Christian Males Rowdy Biblical Men. It's the perfect fire to forge 16-25 year old males into a holy force of nature.

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Clash Ministries is here to do two things, namely, put brains and cojones on Christians. Yep, our holy job is renewing minds (Rom.12:1-2) and emboldening hearts (Prov.28:1). Your generosity helps us throttle the enemy by equipping God's people to live bold, wild and free in Him. You are a vital part of this ministry and we could not do this without you. Thank you for your faithful gifts and partnership and remember to always ... stay rowdy!