Don't Let Look Down

Sometimes I look around at the many people God is using in diverse ways and feel small. Comparison is a trap, and God uses each of us in His own way to advance His Kingdom, but none of us are immune from these feelings.

At other times, I feel that other leaders have looked down on Michelle and I, as if to say "who are you, and do you think you are really making any difference for the Lord with your para-church ministry. Wait for a few more decades, then you can do something significant for the Lord."

This is an age old problem among believers. In fact, in the early Church, Paul wrote his mentee Timothy and encouraged him through this same situation saying, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV). 

Many commentaries believe Timothy was around the age of 30 at the time of this writing. Today, over 50% of the world's population is under the age of 30, meaning we need every young leader and minister we've got. 

But we should also consider that as believers, our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit! We are not simply limited to our human age (1 Cor. 6:19). King David said milleniums ago "I understand more than the aged, for I keep you precepts." (Psalm 119:100, ESV). It was said of the early Church leaders, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13, NIV).

So we see that our obedience to the Word of God and our proximity and relationship to Christ, God can choose to give us wisdom beyond our years and use us greatly whether or not we are "too young!"

Here's the searching question - are you letting other's look down on you and your work for the Lord?