Too Young?

Read: 1 Timothy 4:7-12

I spent six seasons as a high school varsity basketball coach, having been named to the position when I was 24 years old. I still vividly remember a parent at our school stopping me one day and telling me, “You’re so young! How can you be a varsity coach?”

You’ll always find people who will be surprised at the accomplishments of youth. Sometimes they can’t understand how others with so little of life’s experience behind them can assume positions of responsibility. Perhaps they think of themselves as somehow better by the simple fact that they are a few years older.

Apparently Paul was aware of that kind of thinking back in the first century. As he was writing to Timothy about dealing with some false teaching that had arisen in the church, Paul sought to give Timothy a bit of direction. Among the things he told him was this: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Paul didn’t say, “Tim, you’re just a kid. Wait till I get there and I’ll handle this problem for you.” Paul trusted Timothy with this vital church issue, despite his apparent youth.

This wasn’t the first biblical example of a young person being given a big responsibility. In 1 Samuel, we learn that Saul was a young man when Samuel anointed him king. And in 1 Kings 11, a youthful Jeroboam was given an important task.

Experience is a great teacher, and sometimes it takes a while for a young person to develop the needed confidence. But don’t let that stop you from pursuing the area of service you think God wants you to fulfill.

Youthfulness brings with it enthusiasm, vision, hope, fresh ideas, and so many more things that the body of Christ can use. Use those traits and “set an example.” —Dave Branon

bottom line: Age does not define your spiritual stage.

soul journey