Youth

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

           -1 Timothy 4:12

In 1st and 2nd Timothy Paul is giving instructions and encouragement for the ministry to his protege. Timothy is much younger than Paul; he is described as Paul's "true child in the faith". Because of his youthfulness it is understandable that he would have some hangups about getting into ministry. I mean, he hasn't been alive as long as many of those he will be teaching and, in some cases, pointing out faults in and reprimanding/disciplining. Surely the age difference will make them write him off as some uppity kid who deserves at most cursory politeness. By worldly standards he should sit down, shut up, and not interrupt while the grownups do the talking. What he had to realize is that age doesn't matter; what matters is being obedient to  God's calling in his life. In this verse Paul is reminding Timothy that his age doesn't matter. As long as his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity are examples to other believers, as long as his life and everything he does lines up with God's Word his ministry will have the profound effect it should.

Age causing people reluctance and anxiety at speaking is not a new thing by the time Timothy is feeling it, nor did it stop with Timothy. All the way back in the book of Job Elihu is reluctant to speak because of his youth. In Job 32:4 the Bible says "Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he." He is the youngest there, and because of that was "timid and afraid to declare his opinion" (Job 32:6). However, because   of his convictions about God he did speak out. He spoke out for six chapters (ch. 32 - ch. 37). He reprimands the three friends for failing to answer Job. He rebukes Job claiming righteousness and purity before God, for claiming God has been unjust in His dealings with Job. He speaks of God's perfect justice and then expounds upon the greatness and majesty of God. He who is the youngest calls out those who are older. He decided to put aside his timidity and fear to speak up, and God used his words. Nowhere in those six chapters does anyone else present speak. They can find no answer or rebuke for Elihu's words.

God does great things through young people. This is evident throughout both the Old and New Testaments, as well as from other sources. In DC Talk's second Jesus Freaks book there is the story of a young North Korean named Kim. Kim saw one of his friends killed in the street for being a Christian. He came home to his mother, who had hidden her faith from her sons to protect them, in tears because he didn't understand; he didn't even know what a Christian was. She told him, and he came to faith in Christ. He led his three younger brothers to Christ that same night, and soon after crossed the river to China to procure a Bible for the family. He found one miniature Bible, but could find no more. Before he returned to North Korea though, he told the group of Chinese Christians from whom he received the Bible that he needed 5000 more and would return in a month to pick them up. The Bibles were ready when Kim came back, and he and his brothers smuggled Bibles into North Korea for at least a year. This is what can happen when young people put aside fear of not being taken seriously and have faith that God will prepare the way and provide the words to say.


Here's a link to some good videos about youth acting on faith, by youth acting on faith. I just found the site; so far it seems pretty good.
http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2010/04/video-series-fabulous-life-of-a-teenager/