1 Tim 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
How many times in your life has someone looked down on you for your age? I used to hate it when I was little & wanted to ride a cool looking roller coaster only to find out that I was “too little”. I just couldn’t wait till I was a BIG KID! Then as my age got older my features didn’t get older, so even as I begin to reach adult hood there are many times when I am looked at as a kid because of a youthful appearance. (Gonna be a great thing when i’m 50!)
Nobody likes to be looked down on as one who doesn’t have ability or capability because of their age. Nobody likes to feel inferior.
As I read 1Tim 4:12 I see Paul is dealing with Timothy who was a young man, & was admonishing him not to allow his youth be something that hinders him from being effective in the work of God.
The principle I believe Paul was trying to instill in Timothy & in our generation is this:
- If you don’t want to be looked down on,
- Not acknowledged,
- Not respected,
- Not taken seriously,
- Not have the gift God has given you be overlooked because of your age.
Then DO NOT live, talk, or conduct yourself in a way that would CAUSE people to look down on you for your age.
So often I see so many young people with talent, potential, & the call of God on their lives be wasted. Rather then pursue things that will help fulfill God’s call, they spend all of their time & energy building their life up with frivolous things that gives them a Name of one who hasn’t grown up & makes others look at them as a child rather then a vessel God is using.
Don’t let your lifestyle give people reason to have negative things to say about you! Don’t get frustrated because nobody takes you seriously if you don’t take how you conduct yourself & what God is wanting to do in your life seriously.
I encourage you as Paul encouraged Timothy, let everything in your life be an example of the goodness & Holiness of Jesus! Be an example of the believers! We claim to possess His Name, We talk about how His Name has power. I don’t want anything in my life to make my name & especially His Name look bad.
- Let your words be clean,
- Let your conversation be clean,
- Treat people with love & don’t be the cause for contention.
- Keep your spirit right, the worst example of Jesus is someone who claims to have Him but has a rotten attitude!
- Keep the faith, don’t waver on truth. Be a shining example of God’s true undefiled word.
- Strive to live a pure & clean life.
Ask yourself before you let the ears hear it, before you let the eyes see it, before you let your feet take you there, before you let your mouth say it, ask yourself: Will this make me look good or bad, & more importantly will this make my God look good or bad?
Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good!
Young people we are not like the world!
- We don’t talk like they do
- We don’t live like they do
- We don’t look like they do
- We don’t behave like they do
We are not a denomination governed by a man, we are people of Holy Ghost experience governed by God!
The world does not set our standard for living, they are not who sets the bar of what’s right or wrong. God’s word alone has the final say so! WE are to be a clean, shining, Godly example in every area of our life. We are to set the standard by following the word of God of what’s right & wrong.
Young people don’t be infected by the world, but influence your world with RIGHT & RIGHTEOUS living!
Let’s be a generation that’s NOT Despised, we are not the church of tomorrow we are the church of TODAY!
- Preach it!
- Walk it!
- Talk it!
- Live it!
- Be it!
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;…”
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is our time, let’s GO!
-A Young Perspective
-Nathan Cox
