GOD. YOUTH. TRUTH.

            Most teenagers dream of the day when they will strike out on their “own”. I placed quotation marks very carefully around the word “own” because while the recently graduated often gain a new level of independence they are still quite dependent on their families. We crave to be independent and in control of our own lives. While independence from our parents is eventually a good thing, we must be careful that we do not plunge ourselves into a complete separation that creates problems. When we place our independence before respect and submission to our families, we burn bridges that have long lasting effects on our lives.

The parable of prodigal son (Luke 15) gives us some great ideas about how not to move into adulthood.

1. His Priorities were all out of whack. Money, a party life style, and wild living were all things that the prodigal son was convinced that he needed in his life. He demanded his inheritance and left to live life his own way. I see this becoming a greater problem in our young people because parents are allowing naïve teenagers to determine the priorities in their life instead of teaching them how to set responsible, faithful priorities. Teens are still learning and need guidance even when they think that they know better.
2. His plan focused on the now.  The prodigal son had a short-term plan motivated by his desire to live a life of luxury provided to him via his inheritance. He did not consider what would happen when the money ran out. His desires blinded him and he could not see beyond the moment. I see teens who are failing to become young adults because they do not plan for both their spiritual and physical futures. They are in the moment never considering what is to come next.
3. His independence was not sustainable When the money dried up, his high lifestyle died. He was not able to continue down this pathway when he did not have the money. Even if he had the money to continue, a lifestyle of partying such as this would have eventually caught up with him. He abandoned something stable and good for something riotous and appealing. It scares me how many of our teenagers are basing their lives around things that are not sustainable or long lasting.  I get the feeling many times that they use him more as an accessory than truly clothing themselves in Him.

In the end, the prodigal son found himself doing whatever he could for food and longing for home. The same applies to our spiritual lives. We fight against God to do what we desire with skewed priorities, tunnel vision on the now, and never considering the futility of a life away from God. I hope that we can figure out we need God before we end up spiritually starving and wallowing in the filth of the world. Sometimes that is what it takes to realize how much we really need God, but I pray that each of us finds our way back to Him before it comes to that.