Today’s youths are faced with the challenges of coping with ever-broadening spectrum of decision-making. Poor upbringing, peer pressure, technology and the society have negative effects on their moral and psychological development. The home, for instance, is where the child is supposed to be groomed and prepared for adult life. Unfortunately, many parents only give birth to children but are not ready for parenthood. Some parents are merely concerned about intellectual training and social development of their children; neglecting the more crucial emotional and spiritual aspects of their lives.
Peer pressure, among youths, is commonly associated with episodes of social vices such as delinquency, drug abuse and defiant behavior. The media teach them violence, hooliganism, brutality, gangsterism, worldliness and lewdness through TV shows, YouTube and movies. Technology, especially the social media and phones, allow them to have less controlled as well as meaningless communication and deprive them of basic social skills and etiquettes due to declining face-to-face communication. The society completely destroys their moral fibre and self-esteem with adult hypocrisy and bad role models. Children are born into a world where everybody cares for them, every decision is made for them in their early years, and they learn to love and trust the adults around them. They assume what adults say and do is always right. But as they grow older, they come to realize that adults do not always live according to what they say. They are further misguided by some adults who have questionable lifestyle and character, such as certain celebrities whom they idolize. God is concerned with the spiritual welfare of youths, and so should everyone be. King Solomon admonishes in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” Youths need social, intellectual, moral and most importantly spiritual preparation. Their spiritual well-being must be a priority to every stakeholder involved in youth development. Youths need adult role models, as well as help to overcome peer pressure. Therefore, they must be guided against temptations to drug addiction, immorality, dishonesty, lack of respect for authority and forsaking God.
Finally, youths need love, acceptance, attention, etc., and we should seek to satisfy these needs. Good parenting is key to saving the youths from social ills, but parents alone cannot do it all. Guardians, school teachers, the church and all stakeholders in youth development should join hands to influence these young ones positively, and prepare them for glorious future. May the Lord continue to lead and guide our youths aright. SHALOM
