Counsel For The Future
Submitted by Hunter Grills
May 27, 2025
1Sa 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
Graduation season is here with gifts, celebrations, and excitement all around. During these events, advice and speeches are being given to youth about their future. Young people across the country are being told to follow their dreams, to get higher education in order to be successful, to do great things, etc. I personally received such counsel even from well-meaning Christians when I graduated.
As saved, born-again believers, we must take a look at what God’s Word says. It is ever so important to give counsel based upon the truths of Scripture. In our text verse, the Bible says, “for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver”.
We recall a very successful man in Luke 12:19-20 which says, “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”
One of my favorite quotes of all time is from William Carey—“I'm not afraid of failure; I'm afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter."
If we continue encouraging the next generation to follow their dreams and to be successful, we will undoubtedly have a world that continues to move away from the Creator of this world. True success will only come from the blessings of God upon His people. Yes, someone may obtain earthly possessions, but what does it profit him if gains the whole world and loses his own soul?
The advice we give should always be Bible-based, pointing others to Christ. We should never encourage a person to follow their deceitful heart, or to lean unto their own understanding, but rather to trust in the Lord with all of their heart and surrender their life to the Giver of Life.
Pr 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Consider – When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
