Lessons from the Life of Samuel: You’re never too Young to Serve God (Part 2)

Are we putting off our salvation? Are we delaying our response to God’s calling? Could we be missing something when we procrastinate in doing the will of God? Today, we will see the lesson from the life of Samuel that being a youth is never an excuse to serve God.

The vow of Hannah

We learn from the previous post that Hannah fervently prayed to God to bless her with a son. Part of her prayer is to dedicate Samuel to the work of God. She said:

“O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (I Samuel 1:11).

While it is true that it was not initially Samuel’s decision to serve God, he eventually learned to obey God from the heart. This happened at a very young age. We can read that “Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod” (I Samuel 2:18) and he “grew before the LORD” (verse 21).

Answering God’s calling at a very young age

The life of Samuel shows us that we can never be too young to serve God. Surely, God has given us talents and the abilities that we can use to play a role in God’s work. The words of King Solomon should ring true in our lives today:

“Remember NOW your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.’ “(Ecclesiastes 12:1).

King Solomon is regarded to be the wisest man during his time and we have every reason to take heed his wise counsel.

It is sad that we too often see young people leaving the church. Some leave because they are neglected by the church while others see the church as too demanding and restrictive.

However, young people must realize that the BEST way to live this life is to live it according to God’s commandments. Living God’s way of life saves us from numerous heartaches, sufferings, and pain – all of which can be avoided if we only do what God has commanded of us.

Redeeming the time

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

We need to realize the importance of redeeming the time. As young people in the Church, you will never know when your life ends. You will never know what tomorrow will bring. The same is true for everyone. Planning our lives apart from God is like aimlessly sailing in the middle of the vast ocean.

We need to develop a SENSE OF URGENCY. Remember that today is the first day of the rest of your life. Each passing day brings us closer to God’s coming Kingdom. It is a tragedy to chase the wrong things in life because, at the end, the only thing that will matter is the relationship we build with God.

All the physical things in this world will just fade away and be dissolved (II Peter 2:11). With this being said, the Apostle Peter asked a question, “What manner of persons ought you to be?”

I have heard a lot of older people in the church who wished they have been called in the church in an earlier age. I am one of them. I have seen first-hand the joy and blessings of living God’s way of life in a very young age and how I wish that I was in the church during an earlier time.

Each day of our lives, we are getting older. There is no better way to spend the prime of our years than to do God’s work. We should not delay answering the call of God because each passing day we waste is an also opportunity to live a blessed life.

There is no better way to spend the prime of our years than to do God’s work.

I hear some young people that they would serve God after finishing their studies; after they are stable enough to start a family; and after they have enough money to be independent. This is a HUGE delusion that Satan has cast on the minds of our young people! There is no better time to serve God than TODAY!

The crucial decision should be made NOW

When will you serve God? When you are committed to so many things in this world that you have no time for Him? When you are old full of body pains and physical limitations that you can’t even serve in the church anymore? When you are already on your deathbed wishing you could have done more?

Time is running out. Wasted time will never be taken back. Once it’s lost, it’s lost forever. So for all the young people out there, don’t waste your time. Stop experimenting and taking different roads to happiness because God has already revealed that through the Bible. It is up to us to follow. God did not leave us clueless. God has given the answer.

Time is running out. Wasted time will never be taken back. Once it’s lost, it’s lost forever.

God loves all of us and that includes you. His biggest desire is to have a deep and intimate relationship with each of us. By doing so, it is only the time when we will ultimately reap the benefits of a life spent in dedication to God’s way of life.

 

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