Introduction

  • Psalms 37:1-7

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.