Thoughts for Young Men by J C Ryle

 

Thoughts for young men

By J C Ryle

 

Chapter 1 – Reasons for exhorting young men

 

1. There are few young men anywhere who seem to be Christians

 

– few led by the Spirit

– few on narrow road that leads to life

– few setting affections on things above

– few taking up the cross and following Christ

 

Most are backward about the doctrine of salvation

Most are irregular about Sunday Services

Most are difficult to draw to weekly bible studies and prayer times

Most are inattentive to whatever is being preached

 

2.  Death and judgments are waiting for young men, even as it waits for others and they nearly all seem to forget it.

 

Tomorrow is the devil’s day but today is God’s

 

Everyone needs a “Great salvation” – all need to be born again, washed in Christ’s blood – all need to be sanctified by the Spirit.  Your health may be taken from you in a moment through accident, fever, inflammation, broken blood vessel and worm would soon feed upon you in the grave.

 

Ecclesiastes 11 verse 9 “Be happy young man while you are young and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.  Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see but know that for all thee things God will bring you to judgment.”

 

Jesus said “When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?”

 

3.  What young men will be, in all probability depends on what they are now and they seem to forget this.

 

It is an awful mockery to suppose you can give the flower of your strength to the world and the devil and then put off the king of kings with the scraps and remains of your hearts, the wreck and remnants of your powers.

 

Late repentance – there is only one record of this in scripture (The thief on the cross) – remember it is not easy to turn to God whenever you please.

 

Habits are like stones rolling downhill – the further they roll the faster and more governable is their course.

 

Every fresh act of sin lessens fear and remorse, hardens our hearts, blunts the edge of our conscience and increases our evil inclinations.

 

Every day you are either getting nearer to God or further off.  If you do not seek the Lord when young the strength of habit is such that you will probably never seek him at all.

 

4.  The devil uses special diligence to destroy the souls of young men and they don’t seem to know it.

 

Satan knows very well that you will make up the next generation and therefore he employs every trick to make you his own.  He will promise you everything as he did to Christ if you will only serve him.

 

He persuaded Adam and Eve to eat forbidden fruit which brought in death

David – caused his latter days to be full of sorrow

Peter – made him deny his Lord.

 

To spoil the bud is the surest way to mar the flower.

 

5.    Young men need exhorting because of the sorrow it will save them to begin serving God now.

 

Sin is the mother of all sorrow and resort of sin appears to give a man so much misery and pain as the sins of his youth.

 

Some could tell of untimely loss of health brought on by youthful sins – disease, muscular strength wasted, eyes dim, natural energy abated.

 

Others give sad accounts of the consequences of idleness.

Other grievous mistakes in judgment

 

What youth sows old age must reap.

“Experience says” the proverb “is a hard school to attend but fools will learn in no other.”

 

Chapter 2 – Dangers of young men

 

1.     Pride – every age and condition has its own peculiar snares and temptations and it is well known to them.  Ignorance and inexperience are the pedestal of pride.  Once the pedestal is removed pride will soon come down.

 

Example - Jesus washing the disciples feet – John 13 verse 15

 

Solomon – “little child” who does not know how to carry out his duties or manage for himself – 1 Kings 3 verse 17 compared to Absalom in 2 Samuel 15 verse 4 or Adonijah in 1 Kings 1 verse 5

 

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26 verse 12.

 

Never be ashamed of being a learner, Jesus was one at 12.  Luke 2 verse 46 – we are always learners and humbled to find after all how little they knew.

 

2.    Love of Pleasure – things that murder souls – no surer way to get a seared conscience and a hard heart towards the things of God than to give way to the desires of the flesh and mind.  It seems like nothing at first but it

tells in the long run.

 

The young man’s sin is adultery – sin that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any other sin that a man can commit.

 

Samson and David are proofs.

 

Flee from sexual immorality – even the opportunity of it.

Flee from talking about it.

 

3.    Thoughtlessness – men will not consider, look ahead, not look around them, will not reflect on their present course and sure consequences of their present days and wake up to find they are damned for lack of thinking.

 

Example: Esau took stew and sold his birthright.

Simeon and Levi had to avenge rape of Dinah.

Job was afraid of thoughtlessness among his children.

 

“Consider your ways” – Spanish proverb “Hurry comes from the devil.”

 

Matthew Henry tells a story of a great statesman in Queen Elizabeth’s time who retired from public life in his latter days, and gave himself up to serious thought. His former merry companions came to visit him, and told him that he was becoming somber: “No,” he replied, “I am serious; for everyone around me is serious. God is serious in observing us—Christ is serious in interceding for us—the Spirit is serious in striving with us—the truths of God are serious—our spiritual enemies are serious in their endeavors to ruin us—poor lost sinners are serious in hell—and why then should you and I not be serious too?”

 

4.    Contempt of Christianity

 

eg young people who mocked Elisha.

 

Contempt of holy things is the straight road to hell.

 

“The fool says in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14 verse 1

 

No man is so grossly naive as the man who denies the bible to be the word of God and if it be the Word of God be careful that you don’t despise it.

 

You don’t despise medicines because you cannot explain all that your doctor does with them.

 

Has God ever failed to keep his word?  Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

"Men may tell you that there are difficulties in the Bible; things hard to understand. It would not be God’s book if there were not. And what if there are? You don’t despise medicines because you cannot explain all that your doctor does with them. But whatever men may say, the things needed for salvation are as clear as daylight. Be very sure of this—people never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it. They understand it too well; they understand that it condemns their own behavior; they understand that it witnesses against their own sins, and summons them to judgment. They try to believe it is false and useless, because they don’t like to believe it is true. An evil lifestyle must always raise an objection to this book. Men question the truth of Christianity because they hate the practice of it."

 

 

“I always observe that none pay so little outward respect to Christianity as young men. None take so little part in our services, when they are present at them—use Bibles so little—sing so little—listen to preaching so little. None are so generally absent at prayer meetings, Bible Studies, and all other weekday helps to the soul.

 

Young men seem to think they do not need these things—they may be good for women and old men, but not for them. They appear ashamed of seeming to care about their souls: one would almost fancy they considered it a disgrace to go to heaven at all. And this is contempt of Christianity—it is the same spirit which made the young people of Bethel mock Elisha—and of this spirit I say to all young men, Beware! If it is worthwhile to be a Christian, it is worthwhile to be in earnest about it. “

 

5.    Fear of Man’s opinion.

 

“The fear of man will be a snare.” Proverbs 29 verse 25

 

What will my friends think of me – fear of being looked at, laughed at, ridiculed prevents many a good habit from being taken up.

 

Saul said to Samuel “I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.” 1 Samuel 5 verse 24

 

“I am afraid of the Jews” said Zedekiah king of Judah and so disobeyed the advice of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 38 verse 19.

 

Herod was afraid of what his guests would think of him as o he did that which made him “greatly distressed”, he beheaded John the Baptist.

 

Pilate feared offending the Jews – he delivered up Jesus to be crucified.

 

King Jehoshaphat was too easily and yielding in dealings with Ahab and caused many of his troubles – 1 Kings 22 verse 4.

 

The world always respects those the most who act boldly for God.  Never be ashamed of letting men see that you want to go to heaven.  Do not think it is a disgrace to show that you are a servant of God.  Never be afraid of doing what is right.

 

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10 verse 28

 

Try only to please God and he will soon make others pleased with you.

 

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord he makes even his enemies live at peace with him” Proverbs 16 verse 7.

 

Chapter 3 – General Counsels to Young Men

 

1.     Try to get a clear view of the evil of sin

 

-       It dwells naturally in heart of every man and woman – Ecclesiastes 7 verse 20 and Romans 3 verse 23

-       How it defiles our thoughts, words and actions – Genesis 6 verse 5 and Matthew 15 verse 19

-       How it renders us all guilty and abominable in the sight of a holy God – Isaiah 64 verse 56, Habbakuk 1 verse 19

-       How it leaves us utterly without hope of salvation if we look to ourselves – Psalm 143 verse 2 and Romans 3 verse 20

-       How its fruit in this world is shame and its wages in the world to come is death - Romans 6 verses 21 and 23

 

Think what an awful change sin has worked in all our natures.

Think what it cost to make atonement for sin and to provide a pardon and forgiveness for sinners.

Think of what sin has already done on the earth:

-       Threw Adam and Eve out of Eden

-       Brought flood upon the old world

-       Caused fire to come down on Sodom and Gomorrah

-       Drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea

-       Destroyed 7 wicked nations of Canaan

-       Scattered 12 tribes of Israel over the face of the earth

Think of misery and sorrow that sin has caused and is causing today – pain, disease, death, strifes, quarrels, divisions, envy, jealousy, malice, deceit, fraud and cheating, violence, oppression, robbery, selfishness, unkindness, ingratitude – all fruits of sin.

 

2.    Seek to become acquainted with our Lord Jesus Christ

 

-       Not just knowing Christ’s name but knowing his mercy, grace and power

-       knowing not by hearing of the ear but knowing by experience of the heart

 

It is in Christ alone that these things are to be found.  As we live upon him that we are strong Christians.  It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all our confidence, it is only then we shall do great exploits.

 

3.    Never forget that nothing is so important as your soul

 

-       Your soul is the one thing worth living for.

 

God measures all men by one standard, one measure, one test, one criterion and that is the state of our souls.

 

Is my soul lost or saved?  The only question of importance.

 

4.    Remember it is possible to be a young man and yet to serve God.

 

The world takes it for granted that young people must be irreligious and that it is not possible for them to follow Christ.  We are responsible and accountable to God from the very moment that we know right and wrong.

 

The path to heaven is always narrow, whether we be young or old.  There are difficulties but God will give you the grace to overcome them.  God will make sure that the path he requires us to walk is never an impossible road.  He never gave commands to man which he would not give man the power to perform.

 

Examples: Moses – refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Daniel – serving in Babylon blameless and consistent.

 

Isaac, Joseph, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Abijah, Obadiah, Josiah, Timothy – obstacles to contend with, lusts to mortify, trials to endure, hard places to travel but all found it possible to serve God.

 

5.    Determine as long as you live to make the bible your guide and advisor.

 

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119 verse 9.

 

“A young man may just as soon read the scriptures without eyes as understand the spirit of it without grace”

 

-       Read it with prayer that Holy Spirit’s grace will help you understand it.

-       Read it reverently as the Word of God not of man believing implicitly that what it approves is right and what it condemns is wrong.  Jehoiakim read it and at once tore page to pieces and burned it in fire Jeremiah 36 verse 23.  Josiah read it and at once tore his clothes and cried mightily to the Lord – 2 Chronicles 34 verse 19

-       Read it regularly – store up your mind with scripture by diligent reading and you will soon discover its value and power

 

6.    Never make an intimate friend of anyone who is not a friend of God.

 

Never be satisfied with the friendship of anyone who will not be useful to your soul.

 

It is far more easy to catch a chill than to impart a warmth and to make each other’s religion dwindle away than grow and prosper.

 

Choose your friends who will benefit your soul, friends whom you can really respect, friends whom you would like to have near you on your deathbed, friends who love the bible and are not afraid to speak to you about it, friends that you would not be ashamed of having at the coming of Christ and the day of judgment.  Bad company in this life is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come.

 

"Good friends are among our greatest blessings; they may keep us away from much evil, remind us of our course, speak an appropriate word at the right time, draw us upward, and draw us on. But a bad friend is a burden, a weight continually dragging, us down, and chaining us to earth. Keep company with an unsaved man, and it is more than probable you will in the end become like him. that is the general consequence of all such friendships. The good go down to the bad, and the bad do not come up to the good. The world’s proverb is only too correct: “Clothes and company tell true tales about character.” “Show me who a man lives with and I will show you what he is.”

 

Chapter 4 Special rules for Young Men

 

1.     Resolve at once by God’s help to break off every known sin, however small

 

Nothing darkens the eyes of the mind so much and deadens the conscience so surely as an allowed sin.  It may be a little one but it is not any less dangerous.

 

Hazael heard from Elijah of the horrible acts that he would one day do, he said with astonishment “How could our servant, a mere dog accomplish such a feat?” 2 Kings 8 verse 13.  But he allowed sin to take root in his heart and in the end he did them all.

 

1 Corinthians 5 verse 6 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

 

There are no little sins.  All buildings are made up of little parts.  The first stone is as important as any other.  All habits are formed by a succession of little acts and the first little act is of mighty consequence.

 

The devil only wants to get the wedge of a little allowed sin into your heart and you will soon be all his own.

 

“There is nothing small between us and God, for God is an infinite God.”

 

There are 2 ways of going to hell; one is to walk into it with your eyes open – few people do that; the other is to go down by the steps of little sins and that way is only too common.

 

Jeremy Taylor clearly described the progress of sin in a man – first it startles him, then it becomes pleasing, then easy, then delightful then frequent, then habitual, then a way of life.  Then the man feels no guilt, then obstinate, then resolves never to repent and then he is damned.

 

2.     Resolve by God’s help to shun everything which may prove an occasion of sin.

 

“He that would be safe from the acts of evil must widely avoid the occasion.”

 

It is not enough that we determine not to commit sin, we must carefully keep at a distance from all approaches to it.

 

Avoid idleness – it is the opportunity it affords to evil and empty thoughts; it is the wide door it opens for Satan to throw in the seeds of bad things; it is this which is mainly to be feared.

 

It is dangerous to play tricks with sharp tools; it is far more dangerous to take liberties with your immortal soul.

 

eg Joseph – not only refused solicitation to sin from his master’s wife but he showed his prudence in refusing to even be “with her” Genesis 39 verse 10.

Samson – took vows of a Nazarite in Israel, not only took no wine but he even abstained from grapes in any shape whatever.

 

Dinah – had to go out among wicked Shechemites to see their ways and she lost her virginity.

 

Lot – just pitched his tent near sinful Sodom and he lost everything but his life.

 

3.     Resolve never to forget the eye of God – an all seeing God never sleeps, understands your thoughts with whom the night shines as day. 

 

Joseph – no-one was in the house to see them, no human eye to witness against him but he was one who lived as seeing him that is invisible.  How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39 verse 9. 

 

Live as in the sight of God – Abraham walked before God and Enoch did the same.

 

4.     Be diligent in the practice of your Christianity

 

-       Be regular in keeping the Lord’s day

 

The values of the practices of Christianity like other things depends in a great measure on the manner and spirit in which we use them.  Fellowship and worship are a foretaste and a fragment of heaven.  The man who finds them a burden and not a privilege may be sure that his heart stands in needs of a mighty change,

 

5.     Resolve that wherever you are; you will pray.

 

Prayer is the life breath of a man’s soul. The feeling that we must cry to God for mercy and peace is a mark of salvation and the habit of spreading before him our souls needs is an evidence that we have the spirit of adoption.

 

Prayer is the way to procure the outpouring of the Spirit upon our hearts.  Jesus has promised the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  He is ready to come down with all his precious gifts, renewing, sanctifying, purifying, strengthening, cheering, encouraging, enlightening, teaching, directing, guiding into all truth.  But then he wants to be asked.

 

-       Jesus prayed on a mountain

-       Isaac prayed in the fields

-       Hezekiah turned his face to the wall as he lay on his bed

-       Daniel prayed by the riverside

-       Peter prayed on the rooftop.

 

Prayer is the mouthpiece that you must wear continually or else you will never work uninjured by the unhealthy atmosphere of this sinful world.

 

-       David “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice.  Psalm 55 verse 17

-       Daniel prayed 3 times a day

-       Solomon begins his reign with prayer for help and assistance

-       Nehemiah found time to pray when standing before Artaxerxes the king.