By age 12, Jesus was able to take care of Himself for several days alone. Joseph and Mary traveled a day’s journey before they thought to look for Jesus. Then they had to travel a day’s journey to get back to Jerusalem. Then it took them three days to find their son.

For five days Jesus had to take care of Himself. He had to eat. He had to sleep. He had to bathe. He had to dress Himself. He had to determine what He was going to do. For five days, Jesus took full responsibility for Himself.

By age 12, a child should know what to do and what not to do, where to go and not to go, whom to be with and not to be with—without being told.

Without needing to be told, he should keep his room clean and neat. He should do chores without being reminded.

From 12 on, a girl should know what is right and wrong to wear, and there should be no arguments about it. What happens far too often in our day is that a girl gets to be around 10, 11, or 12, and suddenly she wants to look like her friends and the rest of the world. The parents wrestle with her throughout her teenage years, trying to keep her modest and proper as a young lady.

By age 12, a boy should be able to be given the responsibility of a task that is within his skill level to accomplish. He should be expected to get it done. By age 12, he should do schoolwork and study without being told. He should be responsible to handle his money wisely.

I’m not suggesting that at age 12 a young person should no longer require or receive any parental instruction or guidance. However, there should be a sufficiently high level of responsibility developed by this point that a 12-year-old doesn’t need someone constantly telling him or her what to do.

Don’t underestimate the incredible capabilities of young people who have a sense of responsibility, purpose, and destiny.

Look at Luke 2:46-49: “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him [Jesus] in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Notice the sense of purpose and destiny that was tied in with Jesus’ sense of responsibility. He knew who He was and what He should be doing. He had a sense of purpose and destiny already by the age of 12.

Both the Bible and history prove the astounding ability of teenagers. Go through your Bible and look at some of the incredible stories about young people accomplishing great things for God: Joseph, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. History is replete with examples of young people who did extraordinary things. It’s time we leave behind this idea that the teen years are just meant for fun and pleasure.