The Youthful Example, 1 Timothy 4:12

"Don't let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

     No matter how old (or how young) you may be, it is never too early to be an example to those around you. This verse stands against the school of thought that excuses wild, immoral, or indecent adolescents' behavior as "boys will be boys" or "sowing wild oats". Whereas mankind may take the stance that sinful behavior is to be expected from youths, the Bible declares otherwise.

     On the other hand, there are also those who may look down upon a young person for trying to set an example. They may scorn him because he does not have the "necessary experience" to teach others, or the "maturity that comes with age" to be an example. But this isn't necessarily true when we are speaking of spiritual things.
     Spiritual maturity is gained not by years lived, nor by experiences one has gone through, but only by prayerful meditation on God's word and a heart for God and the things of heaven. Spiritual growth occurs when we go through trials the Lord has set before us, and we rely upon Him to get us through them. It comes when we die to ourselves, taking up our cross, and obey the Lord in faith. No amount of years a person may have lived has any direct correlation with their spiritual maturity.
     This is why Paul is telling Timothy not to let anyone look down upon his position in the body of Christ, but rather to set an example for them. By setting an example Timothy would show them that it is never too early in life to be conformed into the likeness of Christ, never too early to make His attributes a desire of our own hearts, and never too early to be a model to those around you of what a godly life should look like. He would show the church around him that it is not age that makes one mature in the Lord, but love and faith, devotion to and communication with the Lord.

     Perhaps in our own lives we have thought that we were disqualified from doing something in the ministry because of our age. Maybe we have thought that in order to be an effective witness we have to go through so many life experiences, that because we haven't been walking with the Lord very long that no one will take our witness seriously. But this isn't so. With an attitude like that, we are prone to convince ourselves that we can't be used by God in this area and that, but God can use anyone and anything at any time to accomplish His purposes! God cannot and will not be limited by anything.
     I have found in my own walk with the Lord that it I cannot discount anything from the realm of things He may want to do in my life, because He cannot be limited by anything or limited to anything. I can't say "He'll never do this," or "God would never send me there," because there is absolutely no logical reasoning behind that thought! God can do whatever He wants to, and by giving our lives to Him we have given Him permission to use us in His plans. We should be open to and willing to obey Him, no matter what He leads us to do.
     If God can use a whale and a disgruntled, disobedient prophet to save Ninevah, if God can use a donkey to stop Balam in his tracks, and swallow up the massive Egyptian army with the Red Sea to save an entire nation, surely nobody's age is going to hinder Him from doing a great and mighty work. God is beyond all and above all. He is the Almighty One.

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