College students, high school students, and all ages below are often viewed as immature, easily influenced, and incapable of taking responsibility. In the words of America’s vice president, “They are stupid. That is why we put them in dormitories, and they have a resident assistant. They make really bad decisions.” Such low expectations of youth can crush the motivation and drive to work hard. Are these expectations realistic? Are young men and women truly unable to bless those around them?
Throughout Scripture, God displays that He can use anyone no matter their occupation, political status, wealth, health, or even age. God does not discriminate. When people seek Him with their whole heart and desire to be used by Him, God will not reject them. In fact, God expects and calls us to seek Him and remember Him in our youth, Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” Throughout Scripture God used many young people to accomplish great things. Among them four stand out: Samuel the Prophet; King David; King Josiah; and Timothy the Pastor.
Samuel was a miracle child. His mother, Hannah, had been childless. She prayed to God constantly asking for a child, and promised that should He give her one, she would return Him to the temple to serve as the LORD’s servant. The LORD answered her prayer, and Samuel was born, and around the age of three He was given into the charge of Eli the High Priest. Eli’s sons were immoral and abhorrent contrary to the young Samuel, 1 Samuel 2:18 “But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.” Samuel served faithfully in carrying out the strict and rigorous ceremonial law, not giving in to the sinful behavior of those around him. Having served faithfully as a priest, God called him to the office of prophet. Being called to such an office was significant, but Samuel’s calling was even more significant because there were so few prophets (1 Samuel 3:1). This young boy (assumed to be about eleven at this time) was the one whom God had chosen to give divine revelation. 1 Samuel 3:19-20 “So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.”
Samuel, who God had called from youth, was blessed to see another young man whom God had chosen. This young man was David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. Unlike his older brothers who were in the Israeli army, David was a shepherd. Samuel was charged to anoint him as the future king of Israel and successor to Saul. Why did God choose a young boy instead of a grown man with great strength? He chose David because He did not desire physical maturity, but spiritual maturity. David had intense faith in the LORD, and this set him apart from those who men saw as more capable. The value of this trait was displayed when the army of Israel was challenged by Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:10-11 “And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.’ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” Those mighty soldiers, including David’s brothers who thought him inferior for his age (1 Samuel 17:28), were now terrified. They had no hope for victory in their own strength. David, however, had trust in the LORD, and he approached King Saul saying that he would face Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:33 & 37 “And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth…’ Moreover David said, ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’” David was not limited by his age because he depended on God, took responsibility, and did what was right. As a result, God allowed him the honor of slaying Goliath.
About two centuries later another king arose from the line of David. His name was Josiah, and his reign started at the age of eight. Scripture describes Josiah very favorably, 2 Kings 22:2 “And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” Josiah began his reign in a time when idolatry was an epidemic in Israel and the Mosaic Law had been lost and forgotten. Yet, Josiah did not follow in the steps of his idolatrous father, but his ancestor David. He sought counsel from the wise and experienced High Priest Hilkiah and the scribe Shaphan. At the age of sixteen he began to seek the LORD, an action that is remarkable considering the fact that almost everyone around him (including his parents) was steeped in idolatry. 2 Chronicles 34:3 “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.” This young man sought the truth in a culture of lies, justice and a nation of corruption, and morality in a society of depravity. He treasured wisdom over pleasure, and was zealous for righteousness. After a dynasty of idolatry, Josiah brought reformation through obedience to God.
In Acts 16, Paul traveled to Derbe and Lystra. It was here that he met one of his most well-known companions, a young Christian man known as Timothy. Timothy was raised by his mother Lois and grandmother Eunice, two women who were known for their exceptional faith and obedience to the will of God. They had taught Timothy the Old Testament Scriptures and the Gospel diligently as he grew up, and the fruit of their labors was evident in the way he lived. He had a great reputation among the Christians at Lystra and Iconium, a reputation which encouraged Paul to bring Timothy with him on his missionary journeys. Paul and Timothy worked well together, and Timothy was called by Paul a “fellow-laborer” and “son.” Timothy obviously impressed Paul, as Paul trusted him enough to tackle great challenges on his own. He sent Timothy to minister to various churches either with a team or on his own, 1 Corinthians 4:17 “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” Philippians 2:19-20 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.” Paul instructed Timothy to trust the LORD and to work rigorously to be an example to others so that no one could look down on him or discredit him due to his age (1 Timothy 4:12).
The LORD can use those who are young to accomplish great things. Young people can carry responsibility and work for the Kingdom of God. Young believers are not the future Church, but the Church now. Do not let others look down upon you due to your age, do not use your age as an excuse for immaturity, but instead seek God’s will, consult wise and Godly men and women for advice, and seek to fulfill what God has in store for you. Do not waste your youth, and do not fail to see the value in the experience and wisdom of your elders, Proverbs 19:20 “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.”
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