01 Jun Don’t look down on the young

There is a fear that has arisen in me recently. I know that’s NOT GOOD, but let me elaborate a bit: A fear has arisen in me of becoming a pharisee of heart. Jesus and His disciples had to deal with the Pharisees, the religious elite of their time. They were questioned, mocked, and ridiculed about everything they did and everyone they came in contact with. The mature of mind and intellect failed to see grace in the leper, in the prostitute, in the carpenter’s son. They looked at everything and everyone through a filter.

I am afraid that, if I’m not careful, I’ll do the same thing to those that are younger. As I progress in age and ministry experience, if I become so wrapped up in what I’m doing and its supposed importance, I can fail to see divine grace in someone half my age (or younger). I can become a pharisee by thinking that an 18-20 year old can’t possibly do what I do or know what I know. They most certainly don’t know what they are doing yet because they are so young! Do any of us really know what we are doing if not led by the Spirit??

When you look at this “fear” objectively though, you’ll see that it’s irrational when you consider the fact that Jesus began ministry at 30 and that young men became disciples of Rabbis between the ages of 12 and 30. They were all young. Hezekiah assumed the role of King at 25 and Samuel heard his name being called by God to take on the function of prophet/seer at 11.

They were so old. So much “wisdom”. So many gray hairs!!!! (Sarcasm implied)

The apostle Paul (probably around 30 years old when he took on that role BTW) wrote this to his young apprentice Timothy:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

As an “older” person, I’ll do my best to keep out of the pharisee box, but young person, KEEP RUNNING! Don’t let people that initially mean well but may have gotten out of the flow of the wind of God tell you that you can’t because of the caste system called age. KEEP RUNNING.