A Word To The Youth

“A Word To The Youth”

“A Word To The Youth”

Public Reading Text: 1 Timothy 4:12

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.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (KJV)

The Message Bible

“12 And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. 13 Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. 14 And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.” (Message)

Daily Bible Reading

Monday - I Corinthians 16:5-18

Tuesday - I Timothy 1:12-17

Wednesday - Titus 2:1-6

Thursday - Titus 2:7-15

Friday - I Peter 5:1-11

Saturday - 2 Timothy 4:1-6

Young people today have and are taking advantage of an opportunity to change not only this country but this world. They are at a point where tolerating systemic racism and bigotry are no longer an option. Some of the older generation members are having their eyes opened by the determination and equality position of the young generation. God will work His work one way or another.

In this passage Timothy is not of course a boy at this stage but a matured young man. He is probably around 32 or 34 years old. His being measured up against the presbyters, widows, deaconesses, & etc., with whom he must so largely associate, he could easily allow himself to be put down by the older believers. Paul here in an effort to head off such a practice writes the words of our text.

A. The Primary (Exhortation)

(Verse 12a)

For there to be any sense...

(Message Bible)

And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Every young person is not immature and every older person is not mature. Young people should strive to become mature individuals and especially spiritually mature.

Timothy is here encouraged to understand that respect for him should still be exercised even though he is young.

1 Timothy 4:12 He must not allow anyone to despise his youth.

Timothy must also so conduct himself that no one can rightly despise his youthfulness.

The apostle Paul is directing Timothy to not let anyone despise his youth. This challenge to young Timothy could appear to be impossible for him to adhere to. Yet, we must read the whole verse and not part at verse 12a. Many times we only take a part of the instructions and the task appear to be unachievable but I admonish you to read on!

Even students in school must read all the instructions and not part of the instructions. When one reads the latter section of verse 12, the focus of the Apostle Paul’s directive is made less foggy.

Then in the b. Part of verse 12, Paul speaks of...

B. The Powerful (Examples)

(Verse 12b

This is similar to the exhortation in Titus 2:7. The Apostle Paul provides a list of several things in which Timothy should be an example.

Be an example...

First, in WORD, not exclusively in public teaching, but as well in daily conversation; in behavior, which must be in full harmony with his words; in love, in faith—the two chief elements of the inner Christian life of which language and behavior are the outward signs; in purity, last of all; including the chastity becoming the believer.

Timothy must not be intimidated by his relative youthfulness or what others might think of it. Instead he was to DEMONSTRATE his maturity by living such a godly life that he would become a pattern for other Christians in every area of his life. Young people you will be given an opportunity to demonstrate your maturity, use it wisely.

Timothy is to demonstrate his maturity in speech … life (i.e., “behavior or conduct,” anastrophē; cf. “conduct” in 3:15), love … faith, and … purity. The word for “purity” (hagneia, “moral cleanness”).

Third and finally Paul moves to verses 13-14...

C. The Practices (Encouraged)

(Verses 13-14)

The other point was about what Timothy is to be but this one is about what he should do. We must BE before we DO.

After referring again to his own movements (cf. 1:3; 3:14–15), Paul exhorted Timothy to attend to his public ministry as well as his private life. Timothy is not to be a public success but a private failure. Timothy’s public ministry was to consist of at least three elements:

(1) Public reading of Scripture. It has always been the practice of God’s people to read the Word of God aloud in the congregation.

(2) Preaching; better yet “exhortation” (paraklēsei). This term includes the exposition and application of the passages read. It is the heralding of God’s word.

(3) Teaching. The distinction between this and preaching is by no means clear-cut. The two merge into each other.

Yet “teaching” (didaskalia; cf. 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 6, 16; 5:17; 6:1) may refer primarily to the interactive handling of the truths of the Christian faith. There may be more opportunities for questions and answers; to explanation and discussion.

Timothy’s opinion of himself as a minister was evidently deficient. It is low and not high in esteem at all. The Apostle Paul raises the idea that God poured into him the necessary endowment for Christian service. Timothy cannot operate as if he is absent of this divine enablement. God has gifted every saved person with spiritual gift (s).

There may be the circumstance whereby people seek to to look down on him. Not only was Timothy to guard against surrendering to others looking down on him but he is essentially admonished not to look down on himself.

His gifts had come to him through a prophetic message which was delivered at the time of his ordination, and the remembrance of this prophecy was designed to strengthen Timothy’s confidence. The laying on of hands is commonly associated in the Bible with a (con-ta-new-aty)continuity of leadership.

In Dt. 34:9, we read: ““And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.”

The phrase body of elders (presbytery)

which speaks of a group of elders, These men together constitute a biblically recognized group.

Timothy had navigated the ordination process.