“And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”1 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul.”2, “And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”3
The Bible verses presented above, along with others, provide God’s blueprint for equipping young adults to handle responsibilities in life and marriage successfully. The blueprint is purpose-driven: where life is lived with clear meaning, intentionality, and direction, with decisions, actions, and goals aligned with God’s plan for human flourishing. “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, Saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”4
God did not create Adam as an adolescent. He created him as a man. God did not mention the age at which He created Adam. Adam, however, died at the age of 930 years.5The two well-known young men in the Bible whose lives were driven by purpose and who began their careers at the age of 30 years were: David, the Son of Jesse, who was the King of Israel6 and Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was made a governor over Egypt.7 Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ also began His ministry at the age of 30 years.8
Some studies show that, in common developmental stages, early adulthood spans ages 20 to 40. Middle adulthood ranges from 40 to 65 years, and late adulthood spans from 65 years and above. But in WLT, we use the age range 18-39 years for young adults. Then we group young adults into three categories: early young adults, aged 18 to 25; middle young adults, aged 26 to 32; and late young adults, aged 33 to 39.
The early young adult age group, 18 to 25 years, which some refer to as “emerging adulthood” (18-29 years), is a critical transitional period of identity, a phase in which one navigates significant life changes. Many young people leave their parents, siblings, close relatives, family fellowships, family church, and family meals for the first time to attend college in another state or, for some, in another country. It is a transitional period of exploration, marked by intense self-discovery and experimentation with various possibilities in education, work, relationships, and worldview, before making enduring life choices. It is a transitional period of independence, characterized by a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and adjustment as you let go of the old dependent life. Some young adults do not want to pursue a college degree but opt for vocational training. Others want to work full-time, marry, and raise children. Some want to combine work and education. Still, others choose to join the military, and the list of opportunities goes on.
The most common actions among young adults in the early, middle, and late stages should focus on pursuing a college education, vocational training, career building, establishing financial and housing independence, marriage, parenting, a healthy lifestyle, civic engagement, and personal fulfillment.
The Bible verses presented above, along with others, provide God’s blueprint for equipping young adults to handle responsibilities in life and marriage successfully. The Bible verses do not use modern scientific or psychological terms. Still, they reveal principles that correspond closely to what we now call the spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, environmental, and financial dimensions of life. Each dimension is considered in detail as follows:
Follow us on our website, blog, social media, and at conferences, seminars, workshops, and community spiritual well-being events, as we use God’s word, rooted in the Holy Bible, to equip you to handle responsibilities in life and marriage. We also use evidence-based health education and health promotion interventions to provide young people equitable opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.