“Is the Young Man Safe?”
2Samuel 18:24-33

I. Introduction:
a. Absalom
i. Wanted to be king - 2Sam. 15:6
ii. Stole the hearts of the people
iii. Rebelled against his father - 2Sam. 17:1-14
iv. David commanded his generals to deal gently with his dishonorable son - 2Sam. 18:5
v. David’s first interest was his son
vi. Joab deliberately killed Absalom for the good of the kingdom - 2Sam. 18:9-15
vii. David’s grief illustrates the misguided love parents have for children gone bad - 2Sam. 18:29-33
b. David
i. As good of a man as he was, he had trouble raising his children
ii. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar.
iii. Absalom murdered Amnon
iv. Absalom fornicated with David’s concubines and committed treason
v. Adonijah committed treason - 1Kings 1:5-6
c. Children
i. Children are the world of tomorrow
ii. As they are today, so the world will be tomorrow
iii. The child’s safety depends on how he is being raised today.
iv. Parents’ life habits profoundly influence children: missing services due to work, school, or sports; immodesty; entertainment, etc.

II. The Child’s Safety Depends On How He Is Taught
a. We are a product of our teaching
i. That is why Christianity is a teaching religion - Matt. 28:20
b. The minds of children are malleable and must be taught the right way
i. Eph. 6:4;  Prov. 22:6,8
c. Christ’s training was fourfold:
i. spiritually, physically, intellectually, socially - Luke 2:52
ii. Parents often leave the first to the local church, allow the schools to handle the third and fourth, and only see to the second.

III. The Child Will Be Safe Honoring Parents
a. Eph. 6:1-3;  Prov. 13:1, 19:26-27
b. A child who will not respect his parents, will not respect others or authority;  he will come to ruin.
c. Jesus was subject to his father
i. Luke 2:51;  Matt. 26:39

IV. The Child Will Be Safe Learning To Work
a. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”
b. Nehemiah 6:3
c. Idleness leads to:
i. Hunger - Prov. 19:15
ii. Poverty - Prov. 23:21
iii. Dependence - Prov. 10:5
iv. Gossip - 1Tim. 5:13
d. “Without work, there is no play” ...Winston Churchill
e. “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lam. 3:27).
f. The number one problem in business is labor; children aren’t being taught how to work.

V. The Child Will Be Safe With Moral Companions
a. 1Cor. 15:33, 5:6
b. “A man is known by the company he keeps” (and so is the child)

VI. The Child Will Be Safe With Wholesome Recreation
a. For recreation to be safe and acceptable before God, it must:
i. not be a work of the flesh - Gal. 5:19-21
1. TV, Movies, books, music… what do you permit?
ii. not stir up impure thoughts - Phil 4:8
iii. not hinder the gospel - 1Cor. 9:12
1. School activities on Wednesday night?
iv. not exceed one’s finances - Rom. 13:8
v. not damage one’s health - 1Cor. 3:16-17
vi. serve a good purpose - 1Tim. 4:8

VII. The Child Will Be Safe Learning The Scriptures
a. Jesus used his knowledge of the scriptures to defeat the devil
i. Matt. 4:1-10
b. 2Tim. 3:15
c. What Bible materials do you have available for use in your home?
d. Give the child a Bible to care for as soon as he can carry it.

VIII. The Child Will Be Safe Learning To Pray
a. Teach him to stop and say a prayer when he is tempted - Matt. 26:41
b. Do you set an example of prayer in your home? Meals & bedtime only?

IX. The Child Will Be Safe With A Godly Mate
a. A godly mate will help one to remain strong - Ecc. 4:9-12
b. A sinful mate will lead one astray - Matt. 14:8;  Neh. 13:23-27
c. Do not fear to help your child make a wise, safe, lifetime decision
d. 2 of 3 Christians who marry outside of the church fall away within five years.

X. Conclusion:
a. 1Kings 1:5 - “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?”
b. 2Sam. 18:32 - “And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
c. “Is the Young Man Safe?”