Let No One Despise Your Youth

I probably wouldn’t classify myself as an adult yet.  I still go crazy sometimes especially when I’m with certain people… (you know who you are if you’re reading this).  I’m not as smart as those people in authority over me, and I don’t have enough money to support myself without the help of my parents.  No, I’m not an adult yet.

But, does this mean I can’t stand up for myself?  Does this mean I can’t work hard towards my future?  Does it mean that I can’t have a close relationship with God because I’m not really old enough yet?

Not at all.

Just because I am young, doesn’t mean I can’t have as much of an impact on the world around me as accomplished adults.  We can all do amazing things as young people.  We can inspire people, teach people, and share our stories with people.  And we can do it well, for the glory of God.

1 Timothy 4:12 is one of my most favorite verses in the whole Bible (that’s saying a lot).  It says, “Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 

1 Timothy is the first of two letters that the apostle Paul wrote to a man named Timothy.  From what is understood, Timothy was a younger man, and Paul was kind of like a mentor to Him.  In chapter 1, verse 2, Paul called him a “son in the faith.”  Goodness, that’s a pretty sweet title to be called, especially by an amazing, godly man like Paul.

Timothy may have been a “son in the faith” but, like all of us, he needed some more instruction in how to be a church leader.  So, Paul decided to give him that instruction.

A few verses later in 1 Timothy 4:14a, Paul wrote, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you…” Paul was basically saying that everyone has a gift given to them by God.  Whether your gift is teaching, writing, singing, or you’re very good at sports, God gave that gift specifically to you!  But, He didn’t give you a gift just so you could throw it down and not acknowledge that it is there.  He wants you to use it for Him.  He wants you to glorify Him with your talents and special abilities. 

You may be saying, “I’m only a teenager. How am I supposed to use my talents to glorify God right now?”  That’s what Paul was saying to Timothy in the first verse we looked at (1 Timothy 4:12).  He said that you should “Let no one despise your youth…” Other translations say, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”  

So, just because we are young in age, doesn’t mean we have to be babies in spirit.  (Now, this doesn’t mean that you should be allowed to watch R-rated movies even though your parents say you’re not old enough yet.  You should always obey your parents’ rules.)  Paul gives us 5 ways we, as young people, can be an example to others (even those older than us) and glorify God.

1.)   In speech – Ephesians 4:29 says, “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” 

o   Think before you speak.  When you talk, always make sure that what you’re saying is encouraging to others and won’t put them down and make them feel bad about themselves.

o   People will notice if you almost always say nice, encouraging things, and it is a good example to set for everyone.

2.)   In conduct – A lot of times, your beliefs will determine your actions.  For example, if you believe that cars are safe to drive and you drive one, you probably shouldn’t act scared because you said that you believed cars are safe.  If you really believed that, you wouldn’t be acting scared to ride in one.

o   So, if you believe in the Bible and that everything it says is true, your actions/conduct should show that.  You should obey all the guidelines God has set for us in His Word.

o   This will be an example to show that you really believe in the Bible if you live out everything it says.

3.)   In love – God is the perfect example of love.  In fact, He is love.  He loves us with an unthinkable amount of love, and we should want to share that amazing love with everyone we meet. 

o   John 15:12 says, “This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.”  Short, sweet, and perfect.  We don’t deserve God’s love, but He still gives it to us.  So, not only should we love our friends and family, we should love our enemies, even if we don’t think they deserve our love. 

o   Those people that you don’t really like will be shocked when you start loving them.  It’s an awesome example to set and one that could lead lots of people to Christ.

4.)   In faith – Every believer has a personal story/testimony.  Someday, I’ll share mine with all of you.  But, even if you don’t think your story is great, God wrote it and He loves it. 

o   Don’t be scared to share the story of your faith with others. 

o   Whenever times get rough, remember to have a steadfast faith in Jesus, because He will protect you and He is always there.  In Matthew 17:20-21, Jesus explains how faith like a mustard seed can move mountains and work miracles.

5.)   In purity – This is the last one, but certainly not the least.  I love Psalm 119:9 which says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your Word.”

o   It is important, especially because of what society tells young people today, to guard your heart and mind.  If you don’t let bad things enter your heart and mind, bad things won’t come out.  But how can we stay pure in a world that tells us purity isn’t important, that it is old-fashioned?

o   David says it here: keep God’s Word.  Meditate on it every day; make sure you remember that time at least once a day when you talk to God and then pause and listen.  Reading God’s Word instead of spending your time on worldly things will lead you to a pure path.  You will be grateful for that pure path you followed once you are married.

Remember these 5 ways that you can be an example to everyone around you.  Even if you are young, God can use you in a powerful way.