Jump Start # 4027
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”
I’ve been preaching about preaching lately. We are moving to a transition period where I will be moving on and the church here will be finding a preacher to continue on the wonderful work that is being done. We preachers don’t talk much about preaching, and I think one of the reasons is because of the limited application and the feeling that we are bragging, begging or looking for sympathy. And, because of that, many simply do not understand the work, the role or the relationship with a preacher. At work, we can negotiate terms, hammer out an agreement, offer counter proposals to income and benefits. Preachers don’t do that. It comes across as if they are preaching for money. So, whatever the church offers, is what the preacher gets. No discussion. No questions.
My generation of preachers are in their sixties and seventies. We are running out of time. It won’t be long and it will be time for our work to end. Younger men will fill our shoes. And, this brings us to our verse today about Timothy. Paul’s words are: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness.” And, those words need to be considered today and taken to heart.
Looking down, despising amounts to thinking what can that kid teach me? I was married and had kids before he was even born. He thinks he can teach me? Really? I’ve been a Christian longer than he has been alive. And, those thoughts are very much alive and well today. Young, powerful preachers are pouring out their hearts to some who will not change, will not move, and will not give up their prideful, stubborn attitudes. It’s not much different than what young John the baptist or our Lord, who were in their 30’s experienced.
Here are some thoughts for us:
First, Timothy was not to get into an argument or shouting match with those who were discounting him because of his age. Rather, he was to show them. Show them what faithfulness looks like. Show them what purity is. Show them knowledge, strength, passion and commitment to the Lord. Young preachers miss this when they act immature and demand respect. Respect and trust is earned. It’s earned by doing your job and doing it very well. Work hard. Go out of your way. Be the best that you can be. Don’t settle for shortcuts.
I started preaching before I was married. When I preached about marriage, someone would say, “That’ll change once your married.” I preached about parenting before I had kids. “What until you have children,” I was told. One day, feeling a bit tired of that, I said, “I’ve never been to Hell, but I can preach about it.” The power is in the word of God not the age of the preacher or even his experiences. It’s God that is teaching us. The preacher is the voice.
Second, we who are older must get over this age thing. I’ve been to doctors who look like they ought to be in high school. Do I listen to them? I do if I want to be healthy. Thinking you know it all, have heard it all, will take to you some very wrong places. It will convince you that you don’t have to come and listen to a young man like Timothy. What can he possibly teach me? If you know so much, why are you not preaching? The aged Paul, sitting in a Roman prison, asked Timothy to bring his books. He wasn’t done studying. If you can’t learn from a young person, it’s likely that you can’t learn from a middle aged person, and it’s very likely that you can’t learn from God Himself. Such pride will ruin your soul.
So, shepherds in the church, who are called “elders,” can and ought to learn from a preacher who is one or two generations younger than they are. They can learn. They can learn if they will. They can learn if they want to.
Third, it is amazing all the places Paul sent young Timothy. Thessalonica. Philippi. Corinth. Ephesus. And, he was calling him to come to Rome. Paul said of Timothy, “I have no one of kindred spirit” like Timothy. Young but dependable. Young but trustworthy. Young but knowledgeable.
Give the young preacher a chance. He’ll fumble here and there, because he’s still learning. Help him. Encourage him. Be his greatest fan and in turn, he can become one of your greatest friends. Together you work in the kingdom. Together you’ll grow stronger in the Lord.
It will be that young preacher that will likely preach your funeral one day. Get to know him. Paul sure liked Timothy.
Do not look down upon his youthfulness. And, the opposite also is true. Don’t discount someone because they are old. We need each other and together we can build strong congregations in the Lord.
Roger