Let No Man Despise Thy Youth

Who is useful to the Master when it comes to faithful service...?

Is it only the elderly, those with the most experience?Do not the young have an important role to fulfill?We can easily become guilty of looking down upon the young...

Perhaps by not taking their obedience to the gospel seriouslyPerhaps by expecting little of them in regards to servicePerhaps by even preventing them from service because of their ageIn 1Ti 4:12, Paul was writing to the young evangelist Timothy...

In which he tells him, "Let no one despise your youth..."Even then there was the danger of some looking down upon those who were youngerIn this lesson, I wish to...

Illustrate: God often used young people to carry out His purposes Point out the kind of young people God can use Remind those of us who are older of our responsibility to the young

[While God often used the elderly (cf. Moses, Joshua) to fulfill His purpose, there are many examples of God using the young as well..]

GOD'S USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE

TO SAVE ISRAEL IN TIME OF FAMINE...

It was through Joseph that God provided Israel a means to survive a famine He was seventeen when sold as a slave to Potiphar - cf. Gen 37:2

DELIVER ISRAEL FROM THE PHILISTINES...

As when God used David to defeat GoliathEven though he was "but a youth", according to King Saul - 1Sa 17:33

TO LEAD ISRAEL TO ITS GREATEST HEIGHTS...

God had David appoint Solomon to succeed himWho when he became king, thought of himself as but "a little child" - 1Ki 3:7

TO RESTORE JUDAH TO THE TRUE WORSHIP OF GOD...

When eight, Josiah became king, and was a good one - 2Ch 34:1-2When sixteen, he sought to serve God - 2Ch 34:3 When twenty, he instituted religious reforms throughout Judah - 2Ch 34:3When twenty-six, he restored the temple, and the Passover - 2Ch 34:8; 35:18-19

TO PROPHESY TO THE NATIONS...

Speaking of Jeremiah, who tried to escape his prophetic call - Jer 1:4-6But 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...

This God did through Daniel, likely 12 to 15 when taken into captivity - Dan 1:3-5Making him 15 to 18 when starting as Nebuchadnezzar's counselor - Dan 1:18-20TO BRING THE SAVIOR INTO THE WORLD...

Which He did through MaryWho was but a young virgin - Lk 1:26-33

TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST...

Referring to Timothy, selected by Paul to join him on his journeys - Ac 16:1-3Who must have been quite young, for it was about fourteen years later that Paul tells him to let no one despise his youth! - 1Ti 4:12

[It should be evident that God has often used young people to accomplish great things! I believe He can do much through young people today; but what kind of young people can He use?]

How God uses the youth in the church.

As Paul instructed Timothy - 1Ti 4:12-16

An example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity-- For then can one save not only themselves, but others as well! - 1Ti 4:16

Example

Word

Conversation

Charity

Spirit

Faith

Purity

Remember that it was your savior that grew in

Luke 2:51–52 KJV 1900

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

As Paul admonished the church regarding young Timothy - 1Co 16:11As Paul admonished Timothy himself in our text - 1Ti 4:12

CONCLUSION

Yes, the young can and should be very active in doing the work of the Lord!

We certainly have many examples of God using the youngAnd we have the example of Jesus Himself, at age twelve - cf. Lk 2:41-49We who are older should always be careful to encourage the desire of the young to serve, and let no one despise their youth!

In closing, we might all ask ourselves: "Are we about our Father's business?" Whether young or old, we should be!