Why Are America's Kids in Trouble?
In America today, the focus is more on self, than on others. We have become the society of prizes and possessions, rather than possessing our time and prizing our relationships. Even the church of today has given way too much attention to things that will gratify us instead of things that will glorify Him. We seem to be more concerned about paying our mortgage or our boat payment, than if our neighbor is born again or not. In this age of technology and advancing knowledge, we need to be careful not to approach a “ tower of Babel ” mentality. How many times do we say to God with our actions, “Hands off, Father. I can handle this one. I don’t need your help.” We then have moved from dependence to independence.
What I want to share with you are reasons why kids in America are in trouble today. Is it because of societies influences? Possibly. More than likely, it is a result of lack in their lives. Following are ten (10) areas of lack in the lives of our kids today.
- Lack of Organization – We often times tell our children what they must do, but neglect to train and teach them. Organization needs to be taught. Without proper organizational skills today, our kids are destined to failure, whether it be in a vocational trade or a high level educational profession
- Lack of Understanding – In a world where everything is instant and high paced, our children barely get a real grasp of anything, before it has either changed or been replaced. We need to teach our children to have absolutes in their lives. We need to teach them that certain things never change and the absolute truth associated to the Scriptures. “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3,4. .
- Lack of Help – To actually help in today’s world means to give of ones time and resources. Our children need for us to spend time with them, not to ignore their need for our time. In order to help them adequately, we need to set up an apprentice environment. The master does the work and the apprentice observes. The master does the work and the apprentice helps. The apprentice does the work and the master helps. The apprentice does the work and the master observes. The master leaves and the apprentice becomes a master over time.
- Lack of Patriotism – Most of today’s children have no idea what patriotism means, or the blessings we have (and have probably abused) because we live in America . To understand the cost and maintenance of our freedom is foreign to our children. Today our youth are bombarded with agreements and arguments for our military involvements. Standards have diminished greatly when it comes to what an American stands for, or what it is that an American is to symbolize.
- Lack of Time – We live in such an “instant gratification” society that quite simply there are too many choices. Have you ever been in a grocery store and wanted to pick up some salsa. Just look at the choices. Everything in America carries that same kind of scenario from lunch snacks to designer jeans, from clothes dryer softener to toilet bowl cleaner, from customized gyms to customized cars. Twenty-four hours in a day basically needs management and self-discipline, with a means and an end to the task at hand.
- Lack of Commitment – When do our children see die hard commitment in this country? It certainly is not in the marriages and relationships here in America . To commit to something and then to continue in it when things go wrong or difficulty arises, is a rarity today. We see children who know nothing of what it means “to succeed at all cost”. It is easier for children to give up than to continue. They give up on their dreams and ambitions because of opposition. How many children do you see striving to achieve, and pushing themselves the extra distance? Believe me, there are few examples and a small percentage.
- Lack of Role Models – Thank God for children who want to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Who has the capacity to show greater love than a parent? The display of genuine love is the greatest model to follow. Kids today are glamorizing rock stars, movie stars, wrestling hunks, and all sort of high profile media mongers, no matter what their life style is like. Popularity rather than making right choices seems to be what motivates our youth today.
- Lack of Relationships – I hate to say this, but most of the youth of today are into themselves. Selfish ambition is the desired appetite for the day. Very seldom are relationships with family given priority, such as parents and grandparents. The relationships that are developed are with peers, and are usually shallow and self-gratifying.
- Lack of Love – The youth of today are love starved because of busyness. Young men and women are not being affirmed as young adults, and as a result really are not sure who loves them, or what real love is like. We must display to the kids today “agape”, self-sacrificing, God-like love, so our kids are not only drawn back to their Creator, but to also give them the opportunity to succeed in their marriages, and as parents.
- Lack of Covenant – Kids today really do not know what a covenant is, because it is seldom introduced, or modeled before them. As a middle aged man I am still learning and trying to understand the covenant that the Lord as initiated towards me, secures and maintains in Christ Jesus. In Old Testament times when a covenant was made, if one or the other broke the covenant, he would forfeit with his life. When God made His covenant with man through Abram, Abram remained in a deep sleep. When a covenant was made both parties would pass between the pieces of the sacrificed animals, signifying that both parties accepted the terms of the agreement and would pay with their own lives if they violated any of the conditions. But here, while Abram slept, only God Himself passed through. Both God and man were made partners in the covenant, but only God was liable if either side violated the agreement. God would have to pay with His own life, even if it was man who messed up. God was saying that He cares so much for us that He is willing to do whatever it takes to keep this covenant in tact, and to make the relationship work.
Immediately, when I say our kids are lacking, we might think of lack of discipline or lack of obedience. These ten (10) areas that are mentioned are training issues and not decrees of “do’s” and “don’ts”. The future success of the next generation is not a society of “do’s” and “don’ts”, but of “I CAN”, “I WILL”, and “I MUST”.
Michael R. Smith