“Don’t let anyone look down on you”
Daily Scripture
Acts 16:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:9-14
Acts 16
1 Paul reached Derbe, and then Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. 2 The brothers and sisters in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take Timothy with him, so he circumcised him. This was because of the Jews who lived in those areas, for they all knew Timothy’s father was Greek.
1 Timothy 4
9 This saying is reliable and deserves complete acceptance. 10 We work and struggle for this: “Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe.” 11 Command these things. Teach them. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure. 13 Until I arrive, pay attention to public reading, preaching, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
On his second missionary journey, the apostle Paul met a younger man named Timothy. Timothy became a deeply valued ally (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2). Paul soon trusted him to lead churches (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3), even after Paul was gone (cf. 2 Timothy 2:1-2). Paul urged Timothy to lead with confidence and trust in the gifts God gave him (which clearly did not depend on him reaching some minimum age). He must not let his youth cause him to shun responsibility.
- The span of Biblical stories about God’s dealings with God’s people showed that you are never too old (e.g., Abraham, Moses) or too young (e.g., Jeremiah, Timothy) to do what God calls you to. If you are on the younger end of the age spectrum, do older people ever intimidate you, making you reluctant to offer your gifts and insights? If you are older, what helps you avoid an inner bias to discount younger Christians whose thinking, style of dress or music is not the same as yours?
- Why would the apostle need to write, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young”? Likely because “the culture didn’t respect people under age 40 as leaders. They preferred older leaders.” * Have you ever learned anything valuable from parents? Grandparents? Teachers? Friends? Children? Grandchildren? Other people? How can the counsel to young Timothy speak to you in your church, workplace or home, no matter what your age?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in this age-conscious culture, remind me that from your eternal view, age is one of the least of your concerns. Empower me to live without fear, now and in all my years of earthly life. Amen.
GPS Insights
Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe serves as a Couples Small Group co-leader & Men's Group Leader, while volunteering in a variety of other capacities at Resurrection. He and his wife, Doris, first met in a Resurrection Single Adult Sunday School class in 1997 and were married in what is now the Student Center. They are empty nesters with 2 college-aged sons, Matthew and Jacob.
I spent this past week pondering the theme of the value of different generations to God’s Kingdom. Let’s take a look:
I read an essay on workplace leadership that referenced Thomas Jefferson’s quote: “We should never judge a President by his age, only by his works.” The essayist broadened Jefferson’s contention to include all fields of endeavor, offering a timely reminder that we should focus on the value of a teammate’s skills & talents & not limit our assessment to their age. (Trivia: President Reagan referred to the Jefferson quote during his 1980 campaign, adding, “Well, ever since Tom told me that, I’ve decided to stop worrying.”)
Eating an early dinner at Brobeck’s BBQ restaurant, we ran into our elderly friends, Jim & Judy, from the 7:30 church service. Starting when our sons were little guys, Jim & Judy sat behind us for 10+ years every Sunday morning. Since Covid interrupted our routine, we haven’t been in touch regularly, so we caught up on each other’s lives. They graciously complimented our sons’ behavior during church for all those years. We shared that it was such a blessing to have older mentors to help reinforce the value of schoolwork, the significance of worship, & importance of family. (Since we were mid-meal when they arrived at the restaurant, Jim said, “Goodness. What time do you eat dinner?” Note to Self: When someone from Tallgrass Creek Senior Living Community comments on our early dinnertime, we need an immediate reassessment of all dining routines.)
We celebrated my folks’ 65th wedding anniversary in Topeka. It was a wonderful occasion as Mom & Dad reminisced about their 1st date while at Kansas State University, getting married on a sweltering day in August 1959 at Admire Methodist Church in Admire, Kansas, & then honeymooning in Kansas City. A video presentation of photos through the years reminded us of the wonderful trips & celebrations that we have shared with multiple generations through the years.
I watched a clip of a debate between Ronald Reagan & Walter Mondale during the 1984 Presidential campaign. Henry Trewhitt, the debate moderator, asked Reagan if, at his advanced age, he was up to the job of President. President Reagan responded, “Mr. Trewhitt I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth & inexperience.” (Both Trewhitt & Mondale laughed at the quip; it was a gentler time.)
Our older son, Matthew, was sharing about the young adult group at his church in the Crossroads District. They have a Group Chat of 30+ people who gather outside of church & Sunday School for KC Current soccer games, flag football, & birthday celebrations. Realizing a desire for deeper connections, 4 older guys in the group started hosting a prayer breakfast at 6:00 a.m. at their rental house on Wednesday mornings. (I didn’t ask how old they were, for fear Matthew might tell me they were like pushing 29 years of age. Sigh.) Anyone is invited to come for breakfast & afterwards the gathering of 12-15 people divide up into smaller groups to chat about their lives & share prayer requests. Inspired by these connections, Matthew & 3 friends have started a Men’s Bible Study on Thursday mornings at 6:00 a.m.
So, what might these occurrences from last week mean for us today?
- Age is truly irrelevant to God. When it comes to His Kingdom, no one, regardless of how young or how old, is beyond His call. As long as we have breath, we have value to God & He has great hopes & dreams for each & every one of us.
- An inter-generational community provides an amazing combination of experiences & energy that can help make a life well-lived.
- We ARE going to get old, so we might as well laugh about it & have fun on the journey. (As George Burns said, “I’m so old that when I was a kid, the Dead Sea was only sick.”)
- Regardless of your age, someone/somewhere probably considers you old. So, you might as well use this branding to your advantage & serve as a mentor to those young whippersnappers. (Sigh. This phrase will definitely help shrink any generational gap – Editor.)
Whoa! I need to dash–Houlihan’s restaurant has an early-bird special this evening. We need to leave now if we want to get the booth with the good lighting–so we can read the menu.
Reagan Quotes: Ktrh.iheart.com/flashback
George Burns Quote: BestLifeOnline.com
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Cynthia Long Westfall, study note on 1 Timothy 4:12 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 410 NT.
