Encourage the Young Men

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8)

As Paul worked his way through God’s advice to different groups of people, you almost have to chuckle when he gets to young men. Paul gave four different instructions to older men. He also had four instructions for older women. He asked older women to teach younger women seven things. Yet, when Paul got to young men, how many instructions did he have for them? Just one. “Be self-controlled.”

It’s as if God, through Paul, were saying to young men, “Let’s just work on one thing, one thing that will either positively or negatively impact every area of your life: Self-control. If you have self-control, life will go well. If you lack self-control, it won’t.”

Young men’s impulses too often get the better of them, and the results can be devastating. A young man who can’t control his sexual desires is guaranteed to hurt a lot of people. A young man who can’t control his use of alcohol will have a hard time recovering from that addiction. A young man who can’t control his anger will be in constant danger of losing his job, his friends, and even his life. A young man who can’t control his finances will dig himself a life-long hole. Young men need to learn self-control.

Often the best way for young men to learn self-control is through godly role models. Young men, of all people, need godly men to look up to. That’s where Titus came into the picture. Paul encouraged young Pastor Titus to set an example by doing what was good. Think of all that Titus could teach young men about self-control: Save sex for marriage, and you and your family will be blessed. Learn to control your temper. Don’t buy things you don’t need. Learn patience and forgiveness from Jesus.

Dear young men, learn the God-given gift of self-control. Your energy and strength are God’s gifts to his world, but only when you learn to use them at God’s time and in God’s way. Find godly men to be your role models and learn from them to be the men whom God has called you to be. 

Dear Lord God, thank you for young men. They bring energy and excitement to our lives. Teach young men the value of self-control and provide them with godly Christian role models. Amen.

Pastor Nathan