Introduction
The Bible gives us plenty of examples of those who had to wait
- Genesis 6:3; 7:23 – Noah
- Genesis 12:2, 4; 15:1-4; 21:5 – Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac.
- I Samuel 16:1, 12-13; II Samuel 5:4 – David had to wait to become king, possibly 15 years.
- The marshmallow experiment
- Children who are able to wait and delay gratification historically have much better outcomes in life.
Waiting until marriage
- Hebrews 13:4 – Pre-marital sexual relations are sinful.
- II Samuel 11:2-4 – David’s sin with Bathsheba
- I Corinthians 7:1-5 – Sex within marriage is holy and commanded by God.
- God’s laws are good!
- James 1:14
Material possessions
- I Timothy 6:6-10
- Young people tend to want what their parents have now, even though it took their parents decades to achieve.
- Hebrews 11:24-26
- Philippians 3:17-20 – We must think of ourselves as citizens of heaven.