It isn't easy. Aside from my own personal struggle, I have worked with hundreds, yes hundreds of men who have struggled to keep their lives pure: single men, married men, pre-teens, teens, young adults, middle age adults, businessmen, blue collar workers, Bible college students, and pastors. No one seems exempt from having to fight this battle. In fact, Steve Arterburn called his book by the title, "Every Man's Battle." There are many who have fallen, bodies strewn along the paths, jobs lost, marriages ended, families destroyed. There is no way of calculating the amount of damage that has been done. But, what is a young man to do? The temptation is everywhere you turn. You can't escape it. So, what is the answer? How does a young man keep his way pure?
The Psalmist tells us the answer, "By living according to your word (Ps. 119:9)."
Seems simple enough. Thankfully, he gives us further instructions. Three things are important:
1. Seek God with all your heart.
2. Hide God's Word in your heart.
3. Follow His statutes.
God tells us through Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13)." Why is this important? Because, God has a plan for our lives; but, unless we put our all into it, we will never know it. Many of those I have worked with are unwilling to put forth the effort that it will take to remain pure. The writer of Proverbs tells of the young man who was so simple, who did not bother to discern the right thing to do, that failed to keep his way pure, who experienced the consequences for being that way. Purity is not accomplished through being passive. Paul wrote to the Philippians that, among other things, whatever is pure they should put their focus upon. Most importantly, we must focus upon God's plan for our lives and we can know that through His word.
The Psalmist speaks of hiding God's word in his heart so that he doesn't sin. That doesn't mean he put it somewhere that he couldn't find it. Later, he writes, "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth (v. 13)." He also states, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways; I will not neglect your word (v. 15-16)." Does this sound like a casual approach to dealing with temptation? No. This is a soldier arming himself with the weapons he needs to be able to fight the battle he knows he will have to face. Just as Jesus fought with the enemy in the wilderness with the Scripture, we need to be prepared with an answer from the Word when we are tempted to sin.
The Psalmist states, "I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches (v. 14)." For him, it wasn't a chore, an obligation or another responsibility. Why is he so excited about following a bunch of rules? We get an idea of what made this important to him later in this chapter, "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors (vs. 24)." In other parts of this same chapter, he states that keeping God's word gives him freedom, strength, comfort in suffering, deliverance. "All Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16)." It is especially useful for helping a young man remain pure...an old man as well.
Godspeed, Doulos
The Psalmist tells us the answer, "By living according to your word (Ps. 119:9)."
Seems simple enough. Thankfully, he gives us further instructions. Three things are important:
1. Seek God with all your heart.
2. Hide God's Word in your heart.
3. Follow His statutes.
God tells us through Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13)." Why is this important? Because, God has a plan for our lives; but, unless we put our all into it, we will never know it. Many of those I have worked with are unwilling to put forth the effort that it will take to remain pure. The writer of Proverbs tells of the young man who was so simple, who did not bother to discern the right thing to do, that failed to keep his way pure, who experienced the consequences for being that way. Purity is not accomplished through being passive. Paul wrote to the Philippians that, among other things, whatever is pure they should put their focus upon. Most importantly, we must focus upon God's plan for our lives and we can know that through His word.
The Psalmist speaks of hiding God's word in his heart so that he doesn't sin. That doesn't mean he put it somewhere that he couldn't find it. Later, he writes, "With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth (v. 13)." He also states, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways; I will not neglect your word (v. 15-16)." Does this sound like a casual approach to dealing with temptation? No. This is a soldier arming himself with the weapons he needs to be able to fight the battle he knows he will have to face. Just as Jesus fought with the enemy in the wilderness with the Scripture, we need to be prepared with an answer from the Word when we are tempted to sin.
The Psalmist states, "I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches (v. 14)." For him, it wasn't a chore, an obligation or another responsibility. Why is he so excited about following a bunch of rules? We get an idea of what made this important to him later in this chapter, "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors (vs. 24)." In other parts of this same chapter, he states that keeping God's word gives him freedom, strength, comfort in suffering, deliverance. "All Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16)." It is especially useful for helping a young man remain pure...an old man as well.
Godspeed, Doulos
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