Category: School

Stand Strong At School

first day 2009 bNo…I’m not talking about getting your paper, pencils, backpack, or clothes. Are you ready for the new school year. It will be a year of great opportunities but also challenges. Whether in school or when we’re older, we are often challenged to defend who we are.

Pressure from others to conform to their accepted standards is sometimes open and forceful such as bullying or taunting. The pressure is exerted to press someone to conform to a standard or punishment for ignoring or rebelling against the standard.

Pressure may be subtle such as avoiding someone or talking about them. Ignoring sends clear signals of rejection of  the behavior and may be more painful than bullying.

What should a godly teen do?

  1. Following the principle to “esteem others better than self” (Philippians 2:1-10), godly teens should never be involved in bullying, taunting, gossiping, or ignoring others. Every soul is precious in God’s sight and we should see their value as well.
  2. Jesus was a friend to the friendless. So many people want to do great things for the world: cure diseases, save the planet, make changes in government, etc. You can do something greater in someone’s world by being a friend to them. You might be the person who helps them find the answers to the big questions in life they are looking for or to be that friend in their greatest hour of need. Very likely, they will be the friend who will stick by you when others might forsake you.
  3. Embrace your uniqueness! Do you really want to be just like everyone else? When you live as a child of God you reject the foolish and life damaging choices that so many of your “wise” friends make. They will think you are foolish for not following in the path of destruction but the wise will avoid their folly (1 Peter 4:1-5; Psalm 1)
  4. Stand proud and thank God if you are persecuted for your faith because you are in good company. The apostles, prophets, and Jesus Himself was mistreated because of their dedication to God. Pray for them that they may become wise (Matthew 5:10-16; 1 Peter 4:12-19)

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you… if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” (ESV)

Do Your Best and Others Will Notice

“Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29

It is important for us to take pride in the work that we do. Whether we are doing a chore around the house or our homework, we should do a job that we will be proud of. If we excel (do a really good job) in these things, when we get older we will excel in our jobs. When we do our best and give the extra time and effort to do quality work, our teachers, parents, and others will notice it.

Even if they do not notice, we should take personal pride in our fine work. If you are involved in sports, art, music, or any other activity that requires much practice, you know that when it comes time to play the game or perform for others, you will only do well if you have prepared well. We often say, “practice makes perfect.”

People who practice hard and take pride in their work may be rewarded with trophies or medals, high grades, or certificates. Even if they are not rewarded in this way, the efforts will develop good habits in their lives so that they will excel in their work and be recognized as good workers.

I remember working with many people who tried to do just enough work to keep their jobs but no more. They were not respected by their bosses or their fellow workers. Those who try their hardest are respected for their good work. Let that be said of you!

Choose Friends Carefully

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26

If you want to serve God, the best thing you can do is make friends of people who want to serve God. A person can learn bad language and behavior from someone who is wicked.

Your choice of friends may determine whether you obey God and go to heaven and follow the devil into hell. Friends can help us do good or persuade us to do wrong. Few decisions are as important as choosing the right friends.

When you choose friends carefully you take time to see if they will make a good friend. Someone may go to church with you or claim to love God yet use bad language and disobey God and their parents. You must see how they act and hear how they talk to make sure you choose friends that will help you grow closer to God.

Some may make friends of people who do bad things thinking that they will change them. Usually the good person learns wicked things instead of the bad person learning good.

I had a good friend who made friends with some boys who did bad things. Soon my friend was in trouble with the police because he and his “friends” broke the law.

Be careful!

You Can Tell Others About Jesus!

Even young people can tell others about Jesus. When people ask you to do or say something wrong tell them no and that Jesus has taught you how to act. Then tell them about Jesus and how He wants what is best for us and wants us to go to heaven. Some people do not have parents who take them to church or tell them about Jesus so be sure to teach them with a kind heart. Never act like you are better than them because your parents have taught you well. Be thankful for good parents.

You can be a good example to others with proper manners, kindness, and being more concerned about others than getting what you want. This is the way Jesus lived and so should we.

Another way to tell people about Jesus is to invite them to Bible classes, church services, and gospel meetings. I knew of some adults that attended because a child in their neighborhood or school invited them!

Learning From Your Friends

There are many people tugging at us, urging us to do what is good or tempting us to evil. Few influences are greater than that of our friends.

At school we have opportunities to make friends that may have a great influence on our lives. Continual association with others effects us for good or ill and the decisions we make influence others. Consider these effects friends can have on us.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed,” Proverbs 13:20

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits,” 1 Corinthians 15:33.

If one wants to be wise, it is better to have friends who love wisdom. If your friends make wise decisions based on Bible teaching and act responsible, you are less likely to get involved in activities or pick up behaviors that displease God. If you want to make good decisions, do not choose friends who do not care whether God is happy or disappointed with their decisions or who care little about the consequences of their actions. Continual friendship with people who do not think about how their decisions might cause trouble or hurt others leads one to make foolish decisions that can limit one’s future chances and take them away from God’s company.

I had a high school friend who was quiet and very responsible. In Boy Scouts he was a Patrol Leader and in school he was a good student. In our junior year he began hanging around with boys who often skipped classes and cared little about preparing for their future. They often wasted time in troublemaking until one night when it went to far. They broke into the school to steal some sound system equipment. The police chased them along the long drive leaving the school. They threw the sound equipment from the back of the truck—which damaged it—but the policemen caught them. Since my friend had not been in trouble with the police before, they allowed him to move to Florida to live with his father. This was a big change for him but it forced him to find new friends since he would no longer be able to hang around with his friends. He knew his problems started with a poor choice of friends.

Choose your friends with care. Choose friends that will build you up, not tear you down.

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. “Proverbs 4:13-19.