1Ti 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.
Despise, in this context means to look down on, to think lowly of. Paul was encouraging Timothy in this letter to
not let ANY one look down on, to think
lowly of him because of his youth. Paul was not saying this to simply increase Timothy’s sense of self-worth. Paul was not saying this to simply encourage Timothy or to protect reputation so that he’s not disrespected. Paul was not desiring to puff
up Timothy’s ego. In this context Paul was
encouraging young Timothy to not allow ANY ONE to think that Timothy could not
be AN EXAMPLE of what a believer should be simply because he was young.
When the verse says NO MAN,
who is that referring to? Everyone, old,
young, men, women, spiritual, not so spiritual, OUR SELVES.
OURSELVES
– THIS IS SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST TRAP THAT SATAN USES AGAINST TEENS... THERE'S A TEMPTATION TO PUSH OFF TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY TILL SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE...
A pastor named Mark Copeland highlighted some
great examples of how God used young people in the Bible to accomplish his
purposes and be an example to any believer.
GOD'S USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
TO SAVE ISRAEL IN TIME OF
FAMINE...
1. It was through Joseph
that God provided Israel a means to
survive a famine
2. He was seventeen when
sold as a slave to Potiphar - cf.
Gen 37:2
TO DELIVER ISRAEL FROM THE
PHILISTINES...
1. As when God used David
to defeat Goliath
2. Even though he was
"but a youth", according to King Saul
- 1Sa 17:33
TO RESTORE JUDAH TO THE
TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD...
2. When sixteen, he sought
to serve God - 2Ch 34:3
3. When twenty, he
instituted religious reforms throughout Judah
TO PROPHESY TO THE NATIONS...
1. Speaking of Jeremiah,
who tried to escape his prophetic call
2. But God told him to not say, "I am a
youth", that He would be
with him - Jer 1:7-8
TO REVEAL THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OVER THE NATIONS...
1. This God did through
Daniel, likely 12 to 15 when taken into
captivity - Dan 1:3-5
2. Making him 15 to 18
when starting as Nebuchadnezzar's counselor
- Dan 1:18-20
