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Do You Want To Be Successful? - Good Advice for Young People of All Ages

By Jeffery Canaday, Youth Director, Calvary Baptist Church, Monticello, Florida

How to Glorify Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ With Your Life By Applying the Principles and Practices of Fundamental Independent Baptists.

Final Part VII – Other Important Character Traits

Being dependable and punctual are very important. If you tell someone that you will be at a certain place at a certain time, be there ON TIME or even a little early. This will show the person that you are meeting that you think they are important to you and that their time is as valuable as yours. It is very disrespectful to keep someone waiting past the appointed time.

It naturally follows that when you make a promise, however small, purpose in your heart that you will always prove your trustworthiness, and do it, ALWAYS. It does not matter how insignificant it might appear to be to YOU, if you promise to pray for someone, send an email, pay some money, pick something up for someone, or give a message to a friend, or whatever, make it a point to ALWAYS do it. It will become a part of your character, and believe me, this to will be very valuable to you as you start to deal with other people. I’m sure that you have noticed that some people, when they promise something, they make sure that they do it, if you are truthful with yourself, you will admit that you admire a person like that. It is very important to you, and your peace of mind, that when you make a promise, people know you will fulfill it. This is a way to be seen as dependable, trustworthy and honest, your word becomes as good as your promissory note, as good as money in the bank. You should place a high value on your word, and then live your life so that others will also. This is the guaranteed road to usefulness, and happiness, and honor. Always be dependable, punctual and keep your promises. Young person, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

ALWAYS do right, no matter what the circumstances are and ALWAYS do right, no matter what the consequences are. Proverbs 1:8 says “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” While your parents are not the only people on earth that you should be obedient to, they certainly deserve it more than anyone else. You, as their child, should love your parents with a pure and unbiased love.

The love of a mother is extreme, she has had your interest and well being at heart from the time you were born. You know that she prays for you regularly, and she wants you to turn out to be someone who is good and useful. It hurts your mother when she sees you acting in a way that you both know is not right. While you are young, you should make it one of your highest priorities to make your parents happy, make them feel that you really love them and it’s your hearts desire to do what they ask of you. Proverbs 19:18 instructs your parents to “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”

Your parents may find it necessary to use physical punishment, spanking, when you need it, but I can tell you that the reason they do this is because of their love for you. I am very glad that my parents did not “spare the rod” when I was growing up, I had a strong will as a child and I had to be broke from what I wanted to do to what was right to do. When you are fully grown up you will also see that the punishments of your parents were really a blessing to you. It is my prayer, however, that you would do what is right and good on your own so that you would not need to be corrected by them.

But I will tell you, if your parents love you they will try their best, whatever it takes, to make sure that you behave appropriately and do what is right. God told our parents in Proverbs 13:24 that “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." It also says in Proverbs 22:15 that “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” And Proverbs 23:13-14 says “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Make no mistake, these are strong and clear directions from God on how to raise a child. The responsibility of parents is very great, it is plain that God would have parents be in control of their children, and make them obey, for the child’s very soul’s sake.

When your parents grow old don’t forget them; try to make them happy, visit them, and assure them that you love them. Now, while you are young, they work hard for you and look after your interest, and so when they are old don’t forget it. Give them all the sunshine you can, they will love and appreciate your visits, or presents, or expressions of love. You should not, when you are young, make your parents ashamed of you because of your bad conduct. Maybe you should look at it this way, when they are dead and gone you don’t want to regret how you treat them now. Respect them, and the Church, and remember that you are a reflection of them, which can be affected by your bad conduct. Christian parents love their children, and really want to see them become good and useful; they wish them to be sincere, quiet, truthful and prudent. One of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:12 says “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”. "Obey your parents" is a commandment from Heaven. You should always mind what they tell you. If you think they ask too much sometimes, you should obey them anyway. It is harmful to you to give in to a spirit of disobedience, and will give your parents pain, and you a bad name. Obey your teacher at school, make them feel that you want to obey them with pleasure. They will love you, and have an interest in you, and will many times over repay your kindness. Doing right is like sowing seeds that will ripen, some will ripen immediately, and some may not ripen for many years, but they will all ripen. A good deed is never lost; it will bless the person who does it as well as the person who receives it. The "royal path" to honor, usefulness and happiness is in having the habit of ALWAYS doing right.