by: Jonathan Painter
The word aptitude basically means, “tendency.” Every teenage young man and young lady have an attitude. The question is, what is the aptitude of your attitude? Whatever your aptitude is in your attitude is what the face of your name will become. If you often have an angry attitude towards people, then very soon the mention of your name will bring thoughts of an angry person. If your attitude is a rebellious one, then very soon the mention of your name will bring to mind a rebel. “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:11
The following paragraph was found in an online parenting article.
“Parents are also griping about it to each other. And even adolescents admit it exists: When teens were asked how adults would describe them, 29% say the adults would say they have a “bad attitude”; 23% say adults would describe them as “disrespectful,” according to a Gallup Youth Survey of 500 teens, ages 13 to 17, released in 1998.”
The world would call this normal, but God’s Word presents a different story. “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” God expects his children, regardless of their age, to develop good tendencies in their attitude. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” I dare say that I don’t think Jesus was rebellious, nor did he snap back at his parents, nor did he pout and whine when he did not get what he asked for. We are to begin molding our mind to be like the mind of Christ, even as teenagers.
The Christian teenager needs not listen to the worldly philosophy that teaches that “teenagers will be teenagers” and that the attitude that most teenagers bring to the table is normal and acceptable. Such thoughts are nothing but erroneous lies to soothe the conscience of mankind. The Christian teenager should be a step above this, and should watch the aptitude of their attitude with diligence.
Here is a thought for the conclusion of this article. Your parents love you very much. They could have decided to abort you, but instead your mother decided to go through the jaws of death, with much pain to bring you into this world. All of your life they have cared for you, and loved you. They have given you everything you have needed, and tried to give you much of what you have wanted. They have toiled and worked to provide you a home in which you can live, and to put food in front of you to eat. I dare say that we should be thankful for everything that they have done for us. However, we repay them by rolling our eyes at them when they ask us to do a simple task. We yell at them and stomp off when they try to protect us from ourselves. Let’s think, before we allow our attitude to go sour toward our family; instead, remember all they have done for you. We, in return, should guard the aptitude of our attitude.
Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln Baptist Church
Lincoln, NE