Dear Christian friends:

Today is our annual Youth Sunday. We have a very good verse for young people to think about. It is written in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

This verse reminds us young people that we, too, should serve God, and not leave that for the old people or wait until we are old and ready to die. So let us attend to this verse and consider the theme:


Youth tends to forget God. So God with love says to young people. "Remember thy Creator." Why do young people easily forget God? Youth are very independent and in the healthy time of life. Death seems far off. They have relatively few problems and responsibilities.

Attractions of the world seem more desirable to them than to older people. They have not yet experienced the emptiness of things, that things don't really give lasting happiness and satisfaction. Cars, money, clothes and other things after a time get boring too.

Why should youth serve God? God says to youth, "Remember thy Creator." God is their Maker and Keeper. He wants the beauty and strength of young people in His service to praise Him and honor Him.

Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, there is no God." Fools do not thank and serve God. And in Proverbs 1:7, it says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Only, people with a reprobate (twisted) mind would not worship their Maker and Keeper as Paul shows in Romans 1:21-28) If we do not worship and serve our Maker we are on the road to destruction. Nothing is more foolish.

Youth should serve God because He is their Savior in Jesus Christ. "Christ died for all," also for young people.

"Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all."
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, hymn

Young people today should look at some of the young in the Bible as examples. Handsome young Joseph when tempted to do adultery with Potiphar's wife asked: "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" The young Israel military hero, David, when he thought of God's help in battle and His mercy to sinners asked, "What shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits (blessings) to me?" The young missionary, Paul, after God in love and kindness called him to faith asked: "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

If you ask these questions and search for answers in God's Word, you will be started on the road to serve God. David asks, "How shall a young man cleansed his way?" and then he answers, "by attending to God's Word." (Psalm 119:9)

How may youth serve God? By giving attention to the 4th Commandment, "Honor thy father and they mother." Love, respect and obey elders and all whom God has placed over you in home, state, school and church. Youth are tempted to rebel against authority.

Youth especially should attend to the 6th Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." God has made youth male and female sex. Young people serve God with their sex if they use it as one way of showing true love for their husband or wife.

If we use our sex selfishly to satisfy our pride in conquering a girl we shame ourself and mock God. God wants young people to save their bodies and sex for their future spouse.

Every young person should read Proverbs chapters 6 and 7. In those two chapters wise Solomon shows young people that those who do adultery destroy themselves.

Youth can serve God by carefully searching for a Christian spouse and planning for a holy marriage. Young people should ask their pastor for advice and help. Also they should listen to the good advice of Christian parents.

By choosing their life's work, vocation, young people serve God. They should choose work that helps their community and state or country most. They should not only think about earning lots of money. Very often young people only think about the wages and not about the service to the employer.

If you only think about yourself and how much money you can earn in your job, you are not serving God. Think more about giving real service. Helping your boss. Helping fellow workers. Helping your city and nation.

Young people serve God by supporting their church. Often young people say, "We are too busy now, later we will go to church, later we will give money to support our church. Now we need all of our money. We must buy a house, buy furniture, buy a car and get so many things to get our home established.

But here in our text God says, "No," to such excuses. He says, "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Young people also should learn to tithe and support church and world mission work. Our Creator and Savior is depending on the young people, too.

May God help all of us young people to remember Him and serve Him.

Amen.