The Hard Way

Yesterday a mother told me about her teenager whose goal is to be free from authority. As you can imagine, that goal has given him a lot of trouble!
His mum said, "He won't listen to me. He won't listen to anyone else. He's going to have to learn the hard way."
What is he going to have to learn the hard way?
*That actions have consequences--we reap what we sow.
*That there will always be some authority over us, whether we like it or not.
I hope that guy doesn't end up in jail one day, but unless he changes, he probably will.
Can you relate to this teen? Do you resent being told what to do?
Do you rebel against authority? Will you have to learn the hard way?
Everybody in life is under authority. Whether it's parents, a schoolteacher, a boss or the policeman. But most of all we are accountable to God. There is no way around it.
It's not easy being under authority, but one day you'll learn it's also not easy being the authority!
All teens need to learn things for themselves. They need to learn to stand on their own feet, and figure out what they believe for themselves. 
But, oh the trouble and heartache you could save yourself by learning the easy way--from God and from other's. 
That's not to say that all advice you are given is good. Not everyone has good godly parents etc. You are first of all under God's authority. But if the advice you are given does not contradict what God says in His Word, you should listen.
And what about God's advice in the Bible? Do you believe it and live by it?

You don't have to learn the hard way!