OceanSide church of Christ

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THE SEASONS OF LIFE (2)

Summer

Youth:  Responsibility

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In this series of lessons, we are looking at “The Seasons of Life.”

1.      Spring:  Childhood (0-12)

2.      Summer:  Youth (13-27)

3.      Fall:  Middle Age (28-65)

4.      Winter:  Old Age (66+)

 

B.      We noted that there are many milestones that we must reach in each one of these seasons of life.  We, however, are only looking at one from each period.

 

C.     In this lesson, we will be moving into Summer. 

1.      This is what we call the years of youth (13-27 years of age). 

2.      The important milestone that must be reached is “Responsibility.”

 

D.    The responsibility exercise?  M&Ms to take care of until the following day.

 

I.                   THE DEFINITION OF RESPONSIBILITY

 

A.    Dictionary.com:  the state of being answerable or accountable for the things within one’s power, control, and management

 

B.      The word responsible can be divided into two words: 

1.      Response and ability

2.      Responsibility involves our ability to respond

 

C.     Our responsibility involves numerous elements:

1.      Our age (I Cor. 13:11)

2.      Our knowledge  (Luke 12:47-48)

3.      Our talents, skills (Matt. 25:14-30)

4.      Our position (Heb. 13:17)

5.      Our opportunities

 

II.                LESS RESPONSIBILITY BEING ASSUMED BY YOUTH

 

A.    Less chores assigned at home

 

B.      No failing in school

 

C.     All participants receive a reward

 

D.    Not taking jobs at early ages

 

E.      Staying in the parents’ home longer

 

F.      Parents protecting children when they have done wrong

 

G.     Sex without the consequences

H.    Quitting when things get difficult

 

I.        Not paying back debt that is owed

 

J.        Refusing to take on leadership roles

 

III.             THE BIBLE AND RESPONSIBILITY

 

A.    God gave responsibilities to the first man (Gen. 2:15).

 

And the Lord God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

 

B.      David was a man of responsibility.

1.      He took care of his father’s sheep (I Sam. 16:11b)

 

…There remaineth the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.

 

a.      When David left the sheep, he made certain someone else took care of them in his absence (I Sam. 17:20).

 

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper…

 

b.      In John 10, Jesus tells us the difference between a hireling and a true shepherd of the sheep (John 10:12-13).

 

But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

 

c.       David was not hireling.  He took his responsibilities to his sheep very seriously (I Sam. 17:34-36a).

 

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  and I went after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth:  and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear…

 

2.      David was made a warrior in the army of Saul.  It is said time and again that he behaved himself wisely.

a.      I Samuel 18:5a

 

And David went out withersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely…

 

b.      I Sam. 18:14

 

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways...

 

c.       I Samuel 18:30b

 

…and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was set by.

 

C.     The five talent and two talent men (Matt. 25:14-17)

 

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  And unto the one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  And likewise he that had received two, he gained other two.

 

IV.             DEVELOPING RESPONSIBILITY

 

A.    Learning responsibility begins very young.  Parents should teach responsibility at a young age.

1.      Taking care of their toys

2.      Putting up their toys after they are finished with them

3.      Helping around the table:  put dishes on table, put dirty dishes in dishwasher, put trash in trash can, do not litter

 

B.      Young people must learn to take responsibility.

1.      Each day make your bed (See Luke 16:10).

 

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

 

2.      Put up your clothes or put them in the dirty clothes hamper at the end of the day.

3.      Take on extra chores around the house without being told to do it.

4.      Learn how to do things around the house:

a.      Wash clothes

b.      Change an electrical outlet

c.       Paint

d.      Minor plumbing:  facet leaks, changing mechanisms in the commode s

e.       Minor lawn mower maintenance:  blade, filter, change oil

f.        Fixing bad electrical cord

5.      Complete all of your homework assignments without being told.

6.      Get a job when you are 16: 

a.      Pay for some of your own things and start saving money

b.      Learn how to prioritize your time

c.       Move up in your responsibilities: 

1)      Ex. #1 - Grocery store:  sacker, checker, stocker, customer service

2)      Ex. #2 – FedEx:  handler, checker, tug driver, ramp agent, manager

3)      Ex. #3 – Riverboat:  deckhand, 2nd mate, 1st mate, steersman, pilot, captain

7.      Join a club and become a leader of it.

8.      Put God and the church first in your life (Matt. 6:33)

9.      Take an active part in your youth group at church.

10.  Befriend a shut-in and go visit him/her on a regular basis.

11.  Do not engage in immoral behaviors:  disrespect of authority, cursing, drinking drugs, porn, sex before marriage

12.  When you make a mistake or sin, admit it, suffer the consequences, learn your lessons, and move forward.

 

V.                REWARDS OF RESPONSIBILITY

 

A.    Positive self-esteem because of a job well-done

 

B.      More responsibilities will be given to you (5 became 10 & 2 became 4, Matt. 25:16-17).  This often means promotions and more monetary reward.

 

C.     You will be known and honored (Ex., David).

1.      I Samuel 18:5b

 

…and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

 

2.      I Samuel 18:16

 

…but all Israel loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

 

3.      I Samuel 18:30

 

…so that his name was set by.

 

D.    God will reward you (Matt. 25:19-23).

 

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents:  behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto thim, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things;  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents:  behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter into the joy of thy lord.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    It is easy to be irresponsible.  All you have to do is nothing.

 

B.      God expects us to be responsible.  He will hold us accountable (Matt. 25:19).

 

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 

C.     Responsibility is a mark of maturity.  Don’t get to 27 years of age and be irresponsible.

1.      You will be harmed.

2.      Your family will be harmed.

3.      Your finance could be harmed.

4.      Your future will be harmed.

5.      You could lose your soul (the one talent man, Matt. 25:24-30, esp. v24 & 30)

 

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:  and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:  lo there thou hast that is thine…and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.