"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."
Lamentations 3:27
The verse states that it is good for a man to bear this yoke in his youth. The word geber is here translated ‘man.’ It means a man as opposed to a woman or the male gender. The word also implies strength as it is rendered ‘mighty men’ where it first occurs in the Bible, Genesis 6:4. The word rendered ‘youth’ means childhood or the early part of life. Our text teaches that men are made strong men by bearing the yoke in their youth. This truth is consistent even with nature and certainly with becoming mighty in the Lord, as He says, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Pro. 8:17).
I shall now endeavor to expand upon our text and speak to young men, hoping to press upon you and urge you to take the Lord’s yoke and bear the burden and heat of the day while in your youth. Now, while I have much to say in this message to young men, I do not wish to exclude anyone. Some may be thinking, "I am not a young man so what has this sermon to do with me?" And some may be thinking, "Well, I am a young man," and the truth is, you are not. But in response to the question, I suggest a wise saying that I have heard attributed to various sources. "When is the best time to plant an oak tree? Twenty years ago. When is the next best time to plant an oak tree? Today." So if you follow my meaning, I believe there is much good here that is profitable to all, though I shall primarily aim at young men.
In the first place, I hope to encourage you to bear the yoke of service. Next, I wish to say something about bearing the yoke of trials. And lastly, I hope to give some sound instruction concerning bearing the yoke of temptations and I believe that we will be compelled to agree with Jeremiah, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."
I. Firstly, a young man should bear the yoke of service to Christ. The scriptures furnish many examples of godly men that began showing piety in youth. Men like Joseph, Samuel, Obadiah, Josiah, and Daniel, to name a few, began early in service. Put together the pieces that are given about John Mark and you will find one that began early in the way. He grew up in
A) The yoke of service includes the yoke of learning. In God’s service our zeal should be according to knowledge. Jesus said of the Samaritans, "Ye worship ye know not what." Christ’s invitation is, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me." When he called his first disciples he told them, "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." We will never amount to much in His service apart from learning His will. We must study if we wish to be approved of God. He has given us His word "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Tim. 3:17). Jesus has said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4). So our desire should be to learn every expression of our Lord’s will. We should not just look for compulsory commands to fulfill minimal service but be searching diligently to find out every desire expressed by God that we might fulfill it. The earlier we start in this study, the better off we shall be.
B) This yoke then, necessarily includes the yoke of self-discipline. Paul told the young man Timothy, "Exercise thyself rather unto godliness." The word gumnaze has been translated here as ‘exercise.’ The word primarily means to practice naked or to train. It was used at that time to refer to athletes that competed in the games. There are two things implied by the usage here. First, Timothy was to be engaged in vigorous activity for the purpose of godliness. Second, he was to cultivate temperance for the purpose of godliness. In the epistle of I Corinthians chapter 9 and verses 25-27, Paul speaks of those athletes that strive for the mastery and observes that they must be "temperate in all things." They must strip off or set aside all things that hinder and prevent their accomplishments. Paul said that he buffeted his own body to bring it into subjection. Self-discipline is the virtue by which we deny ourselves indulgence in delights and train ourselves to labor vigorously to excel in godliness. Without it you will just drift along with the current never harnessing your time productively and it is likely that your belly will become your god. You will be robbed of joy and good works. Paul told Titus, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded." (Titus 2:6). If you do not develop these godly habits in your youth, you will never develop them. God help young men to be sober-minded and mind not the things of the world.
C) The yoke of patience is also needed. Just as self-discipline is a virtue, so is patience. In fact, they are complementary virtues. Self-discipline, or temperance, is enduring temptation without giving in and patience is enduring trials without giving up. Paul told the Romans that patience works experience. Patience involves persistence or keeping to the work even amidst difficulties. Be sure that difficulties will come. You will stumble. You will fall. You will fail. You will be tempted to cry out as Jacob, "All these things are against me." You may even agree with Asaph that said, "Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." (Ps. 73:13-14). He felt that God’s service was futile. He was doing all the right things and getting nowhere, while the careless sinners were enjoying the good things of life. But in patience you will conclude as he did, "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works." (Ps. 73:28).
All who enlist to really do something for Christ will suffer these difficulties. But let us heed the encouragement of the scriptures. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor. 15:58). I encourage every young man to have courage and stick to the work. Like John Mark, your path of service will lead through Perga. To him, what Paul and Barnabas were endeavoring to do was just too difficult so he went home and Paul and Barnabas crossed the mountains. His shortsightedness robbed him of many blessings. He just could not see the benefit of so dangerous a course. Nothing that you do for the Lord is in vain, no matter what results you may see on this earth or what sufferings you encounter. Paul charged Timothy, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (II Tim. 2:3). It is good to bear the yoke of patience early.
II. Secondly, it is good for a young man to bear the yoke of trials. Trials will keep a man humble when nothing else will. It is always the peril of a novice that he may be lifted up with pride. Often the young desire the chief seats when as of yet they have not occupied the lower chambers. The young man should not expect to storm out and find great success at first and I cannot think that it would be good if he did. The Lord usually allows us to begin very small and why would he trust us with greater if we are not faithful with the lesser. Do not despise "the day of small things" and begin humbly with what your hand finds to do remembering the words of our Lord, "Well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee a ruler over many things." Trials help us in these things, so let us consider some of the trials in this yoke.
A) There is here a yoke of chastening or correction. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb. 12:11). All would agree that chastening is not a pleasure to receive but when you consider what is the result we should conclude with David, "Before I was afflicted I went astray… It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." (Ps. 119:67, 71). Be glad if you are pierced through with sorrows when you go astray. Thank God for His love and mercy in bringing you back into the way. It is better here to bear this yoke in youth that we learn not to stray and may be relieved of its stroke later.
B) In trials is also the yoke of afflictions. Paul received a stake in the flesh that he would not be "exalted above measure." You cannot rise to great heights without the proper ballast to ensure that you do not float off. Once you have begun to run you can expect to meet with affliction and in some ways you should welcome it. Paul was glad for it that in his weakness he might be strong in the Lord. Our Lord learned obedience through the things that He suffered and became our faithful high priest that is in touch with the feeling of our infirmities. By affliction you will be brought into sympathy with human suffering. We are instructed to "condescend to men of low estate." Afflictions will bring you low allowing you to identify with and become the servant of your brother.
C) Your trials include the yoke of sorrow. Solomon has written, "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." (Ecc. 7:2-4). You will never make a strong man of God if you are careless and carefree never taking anything seriously. One of the besetting sins of youth is foolishness as the scriptures testify, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child." Often young men are nothing more than large children always living for the moment and seeking only fun and pleasure. Young man be glad if God has added some sorrow to your yoke, you will be better for it. Do not only be glad for sorrow that is added to you, but also seek sorrow. I mean your thoughts should turn often to the sufferings of your fellow man. It is by considering the sorrow of others that you will cultivate compassion, which is necessary to really having a burden for the Lord’s work. And will help you rise out of your inborn selfishness. As you pray and seek God’s will considering the suffering of others you will be moved to "have compassion, making a difference."
III. Lastly, young men growing to be strong men will have to bear the yoke of temptation. Temptations take many forms and you will find them all along the way. It is good to bear this yoke in your youth and have the wisdom gained from past battles to fight new ones. Be assured, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man." You will have to endure temptation and trust in God who will deliver you. Now let us turn our attention to some forms of temptation and pray that you will resist their offerings.
A) Your associations afford a yoke of temptation. The company that you keep will affect you for good or bad. In fact, your companions are either helping you or hindering you in spiritual growth. If your friends are lazy, lovers of pleasure, careless, dishonest, or even outright wicked; you cannot expect to be influenced for good. If you resolve to take serious the things of God, they will tell you to lighten up. If you will not go with them to mischief, they will say that you are just no fun. Rehoboam listened to the counsel of the young men that he had come up with and was led astray (II Chr. 10:8). The blessed man of God walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. If your friends are hindering you or in any way keeping you back from the Lord’s work, then you need new friends. If your associates are constantly tempting you with evil, then you need new associates. If you wish for faithful companions that will influence you for good and will be a blessing instead of a temptation, then heed the words of Paul to Timothy, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Tim. 2:22).
B) Sloth is a yoke of temptation. Sloth is a great thief that, once allowed to break in, will continue to rob you of valuable possessions. It will rob your time, energy, health, and strength. I would add that procrastination goes right along with slothfulness. It is a besetting sin of young men to put off the serious things until later in life. Young men have so much energy, health, and strength and feel like they have so much time ahead of them. Their thoughts run thusly, "I’ll just enjoy life now and do all the fun things. There is plenty of time to get serious later." It is good for you to bear this yoke of temptation early and overcome it through faith. If you do not overcome slothfulness early, you will not overcome it later. The admonition of scriptures is to be "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" (Rom. 12:11).
In Proverbs 24:30-34 Solomon relates a sight that he saw, the field of the slothful man. His fields were overgrown with thorns and nettles. His walls were broken down and could not keep out intruders. His house was likely fallen into disrepair. As he considered it he understood the man’s thoughts, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:" (Pro. 24:33). This man was always putting his work off, choosing rather to enjoy pleasures, fun, and frivolity. And for this very reason, his property was in ruins. The sad fact is that this man’s plot had potential. It was fertile growing thorns and nettles so with cultivation it would have produced good fruit. Slothfulness and procrastination will rob you of your fruitfulness for the Lord. If you follow this man’s pattern, which is also the pattern of many church members today, your life will be wasted on unimportant things and the work of the Lord will go undone.
C) The yoke of temptation for young men also includes the strange woman. Young men are peculiarly susceptible to this temptation. Solomon saw this temptation among the youths. Solomon wrote "To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;" (Prov. 2:16). Her ways are ways of sin and sorrow "For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead." (Pro. 2:18). "Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell." (Pro. 5:5). She has the power of destruction. "None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life." (Pro. 2:19). She is probably the greatest lying vanity on this earth. Her words are so flattering, her beauty is ravishing, and her attire and manners are appealing. Solomon gives strong words of warning about this temptation. "Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" (Pro. 6:25-27).
You must be aware of the flattery and deception. Paul has provided sound instruction saying, "Flee also youthful lusts." You cannot stay and fight. You must flee like righteous Joseph. Also, Paul says, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:14). You must flee if you encounter this temptation and even better, you must avoid any opportunity for the temptation. "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:" (Pro. 5:8). It is good to bear this yoke early and not be the "young man void of understanding" that was "Passing through the street near her corner… So she caught him." Physical uncleanness and sexual immorality will cut off your usefulness and destroy your fitness for the Lord’s work. Escape this snare early.
I conclude with Jeremiah, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Do you realize that God has gifted you uniquely? The Bible says, "The glory of young men is their strength." Young men have so many wonderful qualities such as, health, energy, strength, and passion. You also have many wonderful opportunities for service. These gifts are fleeting. If you live long upon the earth they will quickly leave you and fly to another. It is so important to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" (Ecc. 12:1). "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:48).
Listen to the grandparents when they have the young children with them. You will hear them say, "I wish I had their energy." To have a young mind and a young body is a great blessing from the Lord. "Commit thy way unto the Lord." Don’t get distracted with trinkets and entertainments and thereby waste your substance with riotous living. "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (I John 2:14-17).
Seek earnestly the Lord’s will for your life. Begin preparing for His service, and start doing now what your hands find to do for the glory of Christ. You can do nothing greater with your life than live it for the sole purpose of exalting Christ. Find your purpose in God’s will and give yourself wholly to it. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Tim. 4:12).
Having finished my discourse I wish to add now a brief appendix for the purpose of giving some very practical suggestions for beginning to bear the yoke.
First and foremost, every young Christian man should own a good cross-reference King James Version study Bible. Make a habit of reading your Bible, studying your Bible, and meditating upon what you read and study. Do this every day. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is indispensable to understanding God’s word. Seek the help of the Spirit with your studying. Persistence and prayer and persistent prayer will aid you invaluably. I remember as a young man in Sunday School hearing a lesson upon James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." That lesson led me to such a prayer and a rewarding study that I am still reaping benefits from it.
Secondly, the young Christian man should have a "Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible With Hebrew And Greek Dictionaries." Here is a concordance of all the words in the Bible with a reference to the original language and corresponding definitions.
Thirdly, the young Christian man should have a "Vine’s Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words." This book gives definitions and meanings in differing contexts. Fourthly, the young Christian man should own a good sound book on Bible doctrine. "A Systematic Study Of Bible Doctrine" by T. P. Simmons is the best in many respects. Bro. Simmons’ book is readable, understandable, and brief considering its vast scope. This book will prove a valuable tool to study.
Fifthly, every young Christian man should have a copy, and maybe two, of Arthur Pink’s "The Sovereignty Of God." But beware of the skeleton edition published by The Banner Of Truth Trust. They have revised Pink’s work by leaving out chapters that they disliked. Bro. Milburn Cockrell once told me, "They [The Banner Of Truth] are hardly qualified to edit A. W. Pink." With him I heartily agree. Secure a copy published by Baker Books or one you find that is completely unabridged. Read this book several times. A wrong understanding of God’s sovereignty will defile your whole doctrinal system.
Sixthly, I would not want any young Christian man to be without "Pilgrim’s Progress" by John Bunyan. Charles Spurgeon read this book over 100 times in his lifetime. I have read it several times and hope to read it more. As you go through different phases of the Christian experience, you will find this book to be a constant help and blessing.
Seventhly, I will complete my list urging you to attend all good sound preaching of the Word that you can. You need the fellowship of godly people and to be fed by faithful preaching. If you are not a member of one of the Lord’s true churches, then join one right away. Be baptized and take your place among the faithful of His ranks. Make a habit of attending every service and attend all special services, revivals, and conferences possible. If you do this, your profiting will appear to all and you will lay up much treasure in Heaven.