Wednesday, July 17, 2024
My wife likes to remind me that I was raised by old people when I randomly start singing, “Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop.” It’s cool to know some of those things, but there was a disconnect at home. I wrote a poem in high school with the lines, “He had no father around to teach him right from wrong. He had a mother who loved enough, but she couldn’t stay too long. He’ll go through life from boy to man. He’ll have himself to hold his hand from day to day. Because those who were left to reach him couldn’t preach about today.”
My grandfather raised me at home. I think he did his best, but he knew a man born in 1920 couldn’t be the only male voice for a young man growing up in the 1990s. He ensured that several older men positively influenced my life. His son, who is twelve years my senior, could relate to the experiences of being the only black kid in class in Findlay schools, and he understood hip-hop culture. The adults in my life didn’t stop there—I had NASA employees, college baseball players, church leaders, and others to offer guidance. There wasn’t one role model my grandfather brought into my life who didn’t strive to follow Jesus.
Titus 2:6-8
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 8 Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Look at the way the adults around you walk, talk, follow, and lead. Their behavior was influenced by an older generation. Wisely choose those you surround yourself with, modeling those who lead well and honor Christ with their lives. When it came time for me to lead, I followed the examples of the good men my grandfather and God placed in my life.
The men who contributed negatively show what can go wrong when we aren’t putting God first, or when we dismiss him altogether. Humbling ourselves and sharing the lows in our lives with the next generation is as important as celebrating the successes.
Men, as we age, we have a choice—we can either contribute to breaking communities down or building them up. There are men of age, and there are distinguished gentlemen. Which do you want to be?
Godly living allows older men to offer wisdom, whereas living without God only results in growing old.
Questions:
Can you name any older positive influential people you had then or now? How do you contribute to bringing up the next generation?*
Next Steps:
Contribute to someone’s positive upbringing by joining a family-focused Group. Consider becoming a student or kids’ leader in the church.
Prayer:
Father, I am grateful for the influential people you placed in my life when I needed them the most. I pray that I continue leading by example instead of shying away from the responsibility of raising the next generation. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Titus 2:14
“He [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”
Today’s post was written by Jaron Camp, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.