Age Beseeches Youth (Continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Age Beseeches Youth” - if you remember, Jesus gave us a parable (see Luke 15:11-32) of a certain man who had two sons. It is important to note that it was the younger son who asked for the “portion of goods” that would one day become his. He did not immediately leave home and try his own wings, but a few days after his request was granted, he made an ill-advised decision to leave. Because of his inexperience, he had not yet learned how to have proper self-control. The “younger son” soon lost “all he had in riotous (reckless) living” in a “far country”. Soon, he was in want and without a friend. His friends had all turned from him as rats desert a sinking ship. When he could no longer entertain them on the lavish scale to which they had become accustomed, they proved that they were no friends at all. Beloved, just think - if someone had been there to guide him, he would never have made such a regretful mistake in his judgment of character. His sad experience teaches us that we in the Church who are more mature in age should not idly sit by and watch the younger saints wreck their lives with mistakes that experience has taught us to avoid. If we do nothing, Beloved, we are committing the sin of omission - neglecting to warn our “young” spiritual family-members about snares and traps that can harm them, or failing to give them wise counsel that can help them.

Precious Ones, the excuse that some offer today is that “these young people have too much pride - you can’t tell them anything, Pastor!” However, Beloved, remember that the younger brother’s pride sustained him only for a while. When he found himself thinking of eating the food set aside for pigs, he came to himself and clearly saw the error of his ways. His experience had a successful outcome, but in many instances, regrets may come too late. All of this can be avoided by unselfish sharing of wisdom from the “aged” to the “younger” children of God.

There will be more on this subject next Sunday.

I love you all SO very much.

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy