Arrows of Youth…
Recently while reading my Bible, I came across a passage in Psalm 127 that piqued my interest. In verses 3-5, Solomon talks about children. He says they are “A gift of the Lord” (v.3, NASB), and like “Arrows in the hand of a mighty man” (v.4, KJV).
In just mulling over the passage, it got my thoughts on how our youth are like arrows. From the time they’re born, they can be crafted to serve the Lord, just as arrows, particularly the handmade arrows of an Indian tribe are painstakingly crafted (The arrowhead alone takes at least half an hour!). Like arrows, you can direct their paths (Proverbs 22:6) and head them in the right direction (or, in some cases, the wrong one). But the one thing that stands out in my mind about the comparison is that arrows, once launched, they’re no longer in control of the shooter, much like once teenagers reach the age when they leave home, they’re no longer in a position where their parents can guide them. And, much like arrows, should an arrow fall short of its intended target, it’s possible for the enemy to pick it back up and fire it right back where it came from. Matthew Henry noted,
“Children who are young, may be directed aright to the mark, God’s glory, and the service of their generation; but when they are gone into the world, they are arrows out of the hand, it is too late to direct them then. But these arrows in the hand too often prove arrows in the heart, a grief to godly parents.”
I know both from personal experience and the experiences of others that this can happen all too easily. A child who the parents thought was headed for the bullseye falls short, was picked up by the enemy, and fired back into their parents’ hearts. I think, in this, the youth leaders at the church have probably one of the toughest responsibilities in ministry today. They’re right there, at the threshold of the releasing of the arrow, almost in a sense trying to get in any last minute adjustments to the arrow’s course before it’s fired off to try and make an impact in the world. I think that through their leadership, their setting an example for these kids before they leave for college, in some cases they can have more of an impact than even the parents (teenagers do tend to have a hard time listening to their parents, after all…).
I’m thankful to say, when I was growing up I had a plethora of Godly youth leaders that I could look up to, and I think that played a part in the role I serve in today. I might have found my way to Christian retail without them, sure, but I don’t think I’d have quite the same passion to help teens (seeing as it wasn’t that long ago I was one) in their walk with the Lord if I hadn’t had someone who was passionate about it around when I was their age.
If you have a child in youth group, or if you know a youth leader, thank them for what they do. Teenagers aren’t exactly the most easy crowd to deal with, and they’re on the front lines trying to help make sure that all of the arrows hit the mark.