"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth" (Lamentations 3:27)

When Jeremiah wrote these words, he was weeping over the great destruction that God had allowed to happen to the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah is trying to think back at what went wrong and how the people drifted so far from their Creator. He may be thinking of how the great apostasy first took root when a single generation of children was raised who “knew not the Lord” (Judges 2:10-11). His inspired conclusion is: “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”

In our modern, supposedly enlightened society, it is nearly unlawful to put any kind of yoke on our youth. As parents, it seems that we must allow them to be totally irresponsible and without any fear of effective discipline. God says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

Our youth often desire things that we, as parents, know are not good for them. They often complain when any kind of yoke is placed upon their shoulders. Furthermore, society encourages children to sue their parents, or turn them in as being “abusive” when they don’t get their way. One begins to wonder why God gave children parents in the first place.

With a flooded juvenile court system, overflowing juvenile detention centers, and gangs forming in the 5th grade, one is forced to wonder, “Could we be doing something wrong?” Granted, I still believe that such young people are in the minority, but how long before the minority becomes the majority.

No society has ever become more ideal by drifting away from the timeless, inspired principles laid out in God’s Book. Jeremiah himself said it like this: “Seek the old paths…and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). – Toby Miller

Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.

Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).

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