Earlier this year I was reading J. C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men. I stumbled across this brief text (about 100 pages) in a “Top 20 of 2020” list from Banner of Truth (one of my favorite publishers) – and I’m sure glad I did, for I found it a hard hitting and highly motivating book.

J. I. Packer described Ryle as “a single-minded Christian communicator of profound biblical, theological, and practical wisdom, a man and minister of giant personal stature and electric force of utterance that sympathetic readers still feel.”

Regarding this book in particular, one young reviewer wrote, “I can just say I wish I had this book at the age of 15.” Me too, friend, me too.

As the title implies, Ryle – who lived from 1816 to 1900 and eventually became bishop of Liverpool – writes for young men. They are his main audience. Nevertheless, much – if not most, or even all – of what he says is useful for all. I completely agree with Sinclair Ferguson, who said that, “All Christians, men or women, young or old, can read it with lasting benefit.” Part of the reason for this is that many of his words speak quite acutely to human nature itself.

When I first read it, I immediately recognized how well his words capture both why I’m so attracted to John 3:30 and why I think it’s so important, especially the latter half of it: “…but I must decrease.”

In a section entitled, “Dangers of Young Men,” Ryle writes, “Pride is the oldest sin in the world. Indeed, it was before the world. Satan and his angels fell by pride. They were not satisfied with their first situation and status. Thus pride stocked hell with its first inhabitants.”

He then says, “Pride threw Adam out of paradise. He was not content with the place God assigned him. He tried to raise himself, and fell. Thus sin, sorrow, and death entered in by pride.

“Pride sits in all our hearts by nature. We are born proud. Pride makes us rest content with ourselves–think we are good enough as we are–keep us from taking advice–refuse the gospel of Christ–turn every one to his own way…”

Ryle goes on to speak of particular manifestations of pride typical of young men, giving a couple of examples from the Bible also. I’ll refrain from continuing to paste his words here, but what is notable is that the picture he paints, though common to young men, is, at bottom, a picture of humanity.

Just before diving into a plethora of relevant Scripture, he adjures, “Do not be proud of your own abilities, your own strength, your own knowledge, your own appearance, your own cleverness. Do not be proud of yourself, and your endowments of any kind. It all comes from not knowing yourself and the world. The older you grow, and the more you see, the less reason you will find for being proud. Ignorance and inexperience are the pedestal of pride; once the pedestal is removed–pride will soon come down.”

Rather than add my own two cents, I think it best to leave it at that. Less is more, and Ryle’s words are plenty to ponder here.

I encourage you: ponder them.