See Part One
Here are the final ten:
11. Learn to make good decisions Biblically. Consider how you make decisions. Are they based upon emotion, impulse, and personal desires? Or are they based upon God’s Word, the leading of the Spirit, and the wise thing to do? Learn to do the right thing no matter how hard it is or what it costs.
12. Learn to control your temper. People who cannot control themselves do hurtful things to others. God wants us to be angry at sin but loving towards people.
13. Learn to have a great testimony. Past friendships, past trouble, present friends, dress, music, lifestyle, posture, countenance, habits, and outward appearances all impact what others think of you. This is called your name or your testimony, and you must learn to protect it. God says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
14. Learn to work hard. Life is hard work, especially family life. Even church life, if you are in a position of ministry, takes hard work. Take value in the work you do. If you wait until the last minute, sloppily do your work, and then don’t care about the outcome, you’re developing lazy character. Learn how to pour your best into everything you’re given to do. Develop a solid work ethic, and don’t be afraid of hard work.
15. Learn to take care of your body. Stay healthy, eat right, and discipline yourself. Your body belongs to God and is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Bad health habits will greatly limit your usefulness to God.
16. Learn to tithe and to trust God. If a man will rob from God, that man should not be trusted. Of everything that God gives to you, give Him back at least ten percent through your church.
17. Learn to be real and sincere. Stop playing games, and refuse to be a hypocrite. Too many young adults act one way around friends and another way around authorities. This will only make your future worse!
18. Learn to be understanding and accepting of others. Not everybody is just like you or your close friends. That doesn’t make you better. Godly people love and treat everybody with decency and respect.
19. Learn to get along with others. Some people seem to relish conflict. Like that Charlie Brown character, Pig Pen, everywhere they go they have a little dust cloud of fights, gossip, and strife following them. When there is no strife, they make it up—it’s like Dracula needing blood! They must have it. Don’t be this way and don’t spend time with these people.
20. Learn to have discernment and discretion. Discernment is the ability to perceive and see things through God’s wisdom. Discretion is knowing what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. This is the opposite of being obnoxious, foolish, flirtatious, and boisterous. It’s not having to be the center of attention, but letting God be the center of attention. For a young lady, the Bible calls this a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4).
