Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendour of old men is their grey head.

Youth is beautiful – a time of strength, beauty, opportunity, and unending potential. However, many young people are simple-minded (Proverbs 1:4) and take occasion to indulge in expeditions that bear a cost far too great to bargain for, and soon they pay with the price of their souls (Matthew 16:26). It is an old English saying that reminds us that there is always payment for the piper.

Youth will simply take the path of adventure, wherein their strength and beauty are appreciated and they are given a place to try out many things. This is why they are always at the forefront of revolutions, innovations, “daredevil” adventures, and all manner of firebrand causes.

In Genesis, we see a man whose strength brought him trouble. Driven by lust, Reuben climbed into his father Jacob’s bed and slept with one of his father’s concubines (Genesis 35:22), an act that brought him trouble and the loss of his place as the firstborn, (the firstborn always took the double portion according to Deuteronomy 21:17), to Joseph (later Ephraim), and eventually to Judah (Psalms 78:67–68) in the blessing of Jacob upon his sons (Genesis 49).

Genesis 49:3-4
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it – He went up to my couch.

In the examination of Reuben, who at the time of his error was a youth, we observe that strength is not always an advantage, for even the “battle is not to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

Youth ministry, therefore, is a special place in the body of Christ, a time to build godly foundations for the young who will not depart from those ways when they grow old, because cycles of nature that result in age and physical growth are inevitable under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:4–7). A young man, above all, desires the instruction of his father, according to the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:1-2
¹My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; ² For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

In life, there is such a thing as a good foundation. The Lord Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7:24–27 about the two kinds of foundations: solid rock, which provides assurance when the vagaries of life eventually come around (and believe me, they do); and sand, which is the way to a quick fix and will fail in the evil day.

Initially in my journey of discipleship, I thought that as a young man, I needed the things that would entertain me, or even excite and appeal to the standard of the time. I hoped that Church would find a way to always throw one or two updates in their programme to accommodate my energy and the trends of the season that many may be drawn to. But this is the equivalent of asking God to “be flexible” in his commandment and law because a “new breed” is on the scene. It was when I read some scriptures that I invalidated my own views.

Jeremiah 6:16
¹⁶ Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Job 8:8-10
⁸ “For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers; ⁹ For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow. ¹⁰ Will they not teach you and tell you, and utter words from their heart?

The old paths. The former age. The things discovered by the fathers. These things resounded deep in my heart and soul.

My professor has a saying, “A brilliant flash overview,” to refer to one who has finally come to knowledge already matured in the field. I believe that many young people, when met with their moments of a “brilliant flash overview,” assume that it is a new thing peculiar to their generation, though there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10), and would not believe that those gone ahead of them have passed through the same stages, albeit successfully, to lead good and fulfilled lives. This is why instruction is important for a young person. They need it more than food (Job 23:12).

Proverbs 2:10-12,16
¹⁰ When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, ¹¹ Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, ¹² To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things….¹⁶ To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.

When I first read the story of Reuben, I was saddened to know a man could lose his place because of the consequences of his error. But the Lord is gracious and merciful; when we repent and return to his ways, he will restore us. And I was delighted to read Deuteronomy 33:6, when Moses, in his kingly anointing over Israel, declared upon Reuben a blessing.

Deuteronomy 33:4-6
⁴ Moses commanded a law for us, A heritage of the congregation of Jacob. ⁵ And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
⁶ “Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.”

Wisdom inspired by God in scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) that provides knowledge, counsel, good judgement, discretion; and the Holy Spirit, who guides men in their walk, are important aspects that we must emphasise to the youth because soon they will have to ‘put away childhood and youth’ (Ecclesiastes 11:10). Like I once heard from a great man in a sermon, “Young people must be filled with the Word and Spirit of God, not festivities.”

Shalom