Eric Novak – a fellow Christian blogger – approached me recently about doing a joint post after he saw we had had the same idea: To write about 1 Timothy 4:12.  I thought it was a grand idea, and that it would be neat to put heads together with another beacon of light in the blogging community.  Thus, “When Can God Use Us?” was created.

God’s Choice

Eric: When I was a little kid, I wanted to know the answer to one question: “When can God use me?” Looking in the Bible, there were some great examples of people that God used to accomplish great things. But Joseph, David, and Solomon were such big Bible characters. God used them to build the nation of Israel. Until reading their stories, I never realized that it was God’s choice of when and how to use me.

Youth in Action

Eric: It is amazing to see how God used young people, many of them authors of the greatest books of the Bible.

Tai: In this day and age, it can be so easy to get caught up in wanting to “be someone” and make our mark on the world.  But we must begin by being faithful in the things that God gives us.  You will notice in the following looks at men and women of the Bible whom God used, that none of them were out to make something of themselves.  They were out to serve God humbly, through whatever circumstances came their way - and many were unpleasant.  And as they followed God's leading, he used their lives in amazing ways.

How did God use young people?
 
To save Israel in the time of famine.

It was through Joseph that God provided Israel a means to survive a famine.

He was seventeen years old when sold as a slave to Potiphar (Genesis 37:2).

To deliver Israel from the Philistines.

God used David to defeat Goliath, even though he was "but a youth" according to King Saul. (1 Samuel 17:33)

To lead Israel to its greatest heights

David appointed Solomon to succeed him, who when he became king, thought of himself as but "a little child" (1Kings 3:7)

To restore Judah to the true worship of God

When he was just eight, Josiah became king, and he was a good one (2 Chronicles 34:1). When he was sixteen, he sought to serve God (2 Chronicles 34:3). When he was twenty, he instituted religious reforms throughout Judah (2 Chronicles 34:3). When he was twenty-six, he restored the temple and the Passover (2 Chronicles 34:8; 35:18-19).

To prophesy to the nations

Jeremiah tried to escape his prophetic call (Jeremiah 1:4-6), but God told him not to say, "I am a youth," because He would be with him (Jeremiah 1:7-8).

To reveal the sovereignty of God over the nations

This God did through Daniel, who was possibly twelve to fifteen when taken into Babylonian captivity (Daniel 1:3-5).

Making him fifteen to eighteen when brought to Nebuchadnezzar and began serving as his counselor (Daniel 1:18-20).

To bring the savior into the world

Mary was but a young virgin (Luke 1:26-33).

To proclaim the gospel to the lost

Timothy was selected by Paul to join him on his journeys (Acts 16:1-3).

He must have been quite young, for it was over twenty years later that Paul tells him to let no one despise his youth(1Timothy 4:12)!

The Kind of Young People God Can Use

1Timothy 4:12 says, “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.” This verse can mean two things. First, don’t let anyone look down on you because of your age or it can mean to act a specific way so that no one has any reason to look down on you. I have a tendency to believe it means the latter. If we look at young people in the Bible, we find amazing examples of the kind of character qualities that God looked for in young people.

He looked for those willing to flee immorality - Joseph

Tai: Joseph was a young man who God was able to use to express His glory because he was committed to serving God in whatever circumstances he found himself. One big test for Joseph came in the form of his Egyptian master, Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was handsome and Potiphar’s wife was attracted to him. In Genesis 39:7, she tried to lure him into committing adultery, but Joseph refused out of honor for his master and obedience to God. Later, when she grabbed his robe and tried to tempt him again, Joseph didn’t say, “Oh, you’ve got me by my robe, I guess I have to give in now.” Nope. He wasted no time in leaving behind what may have been one of his only earthly possessions as he fled from Potiphar’s wife. God blessed him for his wise decisions, taking him from being a humble shepherd and eventually making him a ruler over Egypt. He used him not only to save   all of Egypt during a terrible 7-year famine, but also Israel, including the very brothers who had sold him into slavery over jealousy, years before.

Eric: Notice that Joseph left his robe in the hands of Potiphar’s wife. He dropped his prized possession and fled immorality. We should embrace that attitude, as well. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.”

Those willing to trust in God – David

Tai: David trusted God with all of his heart and was willing to attempt great things for Him. When he was just a young man, he stood before a giant whom no one else in the Israelites’ army seemed willing to fight. With just a sling, five stones, and God’s help, the fierce Giant was slain by this small shepherd boy. As he grew older, he trusted God to help him overcome many armies larger than his own. He also let Saul, who had been searching to unjustly kill him for quite a while, escape when he could have killed Saul himself more than once. He believed God’s justice was better than his own. God blessed him and set him as king over Israel. God said of him, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (1 Samuel 13:13-14, Acts 13:22). David was ready to do anything that the Lord sent him to do and the Lord was pleased. He was faithful with the small things and the Lord gave him larger and larger things, as he continued to be faithful.

Eric: David had amazing faith. Do you wonder why he picked up five stones? Was it because he was afraid he would miss? Goliath actually had four brothers and David’s faith was so great that he was going to take out all the brothers with just his sling (2 Samuel 21:15-22)!

Those willing to seek first thing first – Solomon

Tai: First Kings 3:7-9 says, “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this, your great people?” 

Now that's what I call humility – and it was spoken by one of Israel’s greatest (and wisest) kings! Solomon realized his human weakness, and the lack of ability to judge the land correctly on his own. He wasted no time in going right to the top in his search for wisdom. Because of his humility, God not only gave him wisdom, but added to it both riches and honor.

 Eric: Solomon had an extremely hard choice to make. From the hand of God, he could ask for anything – money, happiness, honor or power – he could have asked for any one of a thousand earthly things (1 Kings 3:5). Instead, he decided to take wisdom. Because of his decision he was the wisest king in the history of Israel. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Solomon feared the Lord first and then God gave him wisdom.

Those willing to seek the lord with humility – Josiah

Tai: Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign in Jerusalem. He found favor in God’s sight, and walked in His ways. When he was 16 he began to seek God. When he was 20, he instituted religious reform in Judah and tore down the places of worship to false gods. When he was 26 he repaired the temple, restored the people’s worship of the true God, and kept the Passover. He was committed to seeing the name of God lifted above all other things, and his obedience to God’s standards was reflected in the whole land of Judah.

 Eric: Josiah was one of Israel’s youngest kings, devoting his life to God from his youth. Jonathan Edwards felt that devoting these very young, tender years to the Lord’s service is “a peculiar honor to God.” He said, “Boys who are pious early, dedicate the flower of their lives to God.”

While Josiah was king he destroyed the high places of Asherim. He tore down the altars of Baals, chopped up the incense altars above the Baals, and broke the carved and molten images into pieces and ground to powder. He scattered the ground powder on the graves of those who had sacrificed to the false gods and then burned the bones of the priests on their altars. Josiah was so devoted to God that he didn’t care about what the people wanted to do. He cared about what God wanted them to do.

Those willing to boldly do God’s will – Jeremiah

Tai: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” How many times have we said or thought the same thing to ourselves? “I can’t talk to that person about God, I’m just a kid!” That was Jeremiah’s initial response to learning that God had appointed him to be a prophet “to the nations.” But God replied with this remark: “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth;’ for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jer. 1:7-8) God has called us to share his glory with the world, and he will give us the words to speak. We just have to GO and boldly do God’s will.

Eric: Jeremiah was just a youth when God chose to use him. Even though Jeremiah was slightly like Moses (in the sense that they both were afraid to speak for God), He still chose to use him. The reason was because there are no limitations with God. If he could take a rock and make it speak, then he can take a youth and use him (or her) convey His message.

Those willing to be true to their convictions – Daniel

Tai: Daniel was just a youth when he was taken into Babylonian captivity. But even then, at the very beginning of his imprisonment, he stood firm in his convictions not to eat or drink any of the king’s food or wine. God blessed him greatly for that. (Daniel 1:8) Later, he was willing to stand up for the one true God, despite the huge threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace if he would not bow down to an idol. He did not bow and consequently he was thrown into the furnace, as promised, along with his three friends. But God protected them there, and they came out unharmed (not even a single hair of their heads was singed). (Daniel 3:27) Daniel stood firm in his convictions, never wavering, and God was glorified through his faith.

Eric: Daniel had strong convictions. After refusing to eat the king's food, being thrown into a fiery furnace, and tossed into a den of lions, he was still in one piece. God told him, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel 10:10 -12).

Those willing to humbly submit to God’s will – Mary

Tai: Mary was a young woman of no social standing, with no outstanding qualities – except for her humility. And because of this, she found favor in the eyes of God (Luke 1:30) and was chosen out of all the women on earth to bear the Son of God. When the angel of the Lord told her that she would be the one to bear Jesus, something that she knew could have a terrible effect on her reputation, she said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” She wholeheartedly submitted to God’s will. Oh, that we all would be so humbly submitted.

Eric: I always find amazing that Mary was able to submit to God’s will for her life. Look at the scandal that could have followed her. She knew from the moment the Angel appeared to her that she could be stoned to death, and yet she made the decision to surrender her life to God’s service, anyway. Do we have that kind of courage today?

Those willing to be an example to others - Paul instructing Timothy

Tai: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Timothy was a young disciple, whom Paul chose to accompany him (Acts 16:1-3), and for whom he became a spiritual mentor. In the verse above, Paul was writing to Timothy to encourage him to be an example for the other believers in Ephesus, where Timothy was serving. It isn’t always easy, but as Christians, we are called to be examples of Jesus and His glory. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”(Matthew 5:16).

Eric: Timothy was a young man who Paul befriended in Lystra around 49AD. Most of Paul’s letters were addressed in some way to Timothy. In fact, only three letters make no mention of him (Ephesians, Titus and Gelatins). Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one look down on your for your youth.” Not only does this means “young” it means "a new believer" too!

The Greek word “youthfulness” is the word Neotes, meaning “young” and “youth.” This word is derived from "ananeoo" which means "to renew, to make young, to be renewed insofar as spiritual vitality is concerned." Youthfulness is also derived from the word "Neophutos" which means "Newly Planted." This would make a lot of sense as Paul would be saying, "Don't let anyone look down on you for being a new Christian" in addition to "Don't let anyone look down on you for being youthful." Timothy may have been a “newer” Christian when the book of Timothy was written, and when Paul told him to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Making Change – Teens Today

I find it amazing that some people think most young people aren’t old enough to have a ministry. Who are we to tell God, whom He can and cannot use? God didn’t just use young people in the Bible; He is using them all over the world today.

What Can God Do With You?

Jeremiah said, “I am but a youth.” And God’s reply was stunning. “Do not say, ‘I am a youth’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak!” God was not telling Jeremiah that it was an option to serve Him; He was commanding him to serve Him and not to take his youth into account. God basically said, “Don’t use that terminology in my presence, young man!”

1 Timothy 4:12  “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

“Deliver me from attachment to things unclean, from wrong associations, from the predominance of evil passions, from the sugar of sin a well as its gall, that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching – I may come to thee, cast myself on thee, trust in thee, cry to thee, be delivered by thee.  O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that all things are shadows, but thou art substance, all things are quicksands, but thou art mountain, all things are shifting, but thou art anchor, all things are ignorance, but thou art wisdom.  If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it, but do thou sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that nothing be lost.” From The Valley of Vision - Purification

“But teach me…that I fall short of the purity thou requirest, because in thinking I am holy I do not seek holiness, or, believing I am impotent, I do no more.” From The Valley of Vision – Reliance

“My thoughts are not screened from thy gaze, my secret sins blaze in the light of thy countenance.” From The Valley of Vision – New Beginning

I discussed some aspects of purity in my previous post on being an example in Love.  Especially that we are to treat friends as brothers and sisters in Christ, with all purity.  But what IS purity?  Is it just in how we act or what we say?  Well, it does include those things (not taking what is rightfully not ours yet, and thinking of what will best serve the other person rather than just following our own selfish passions), but purity is an attitude of the heart.  It starts with a resolve to do all that God has commanded, and to surrender all the passions of the heart, and all of the sins – once discovered – into God’s care.  It is after it has started deep within – with that resolve – that it can and will then seep out into all we do and say.  It will affect our relationships, how we spend our time, and how we pray.  And, as the writer of one of the prayers from The Valley of Vision above stated, God may use the crucible – fire…the difficult times – to purify us, and grow us, but if we ask him to guard the growth, so that no lesson is lost, while that which is imperfect is melted away, he will be sure to do so.  When purity characterizes our lives, others will notice the difference.

“Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22

As this verse states, as we seek to grow in purity and to live lives characterized by it, we are to do it with others who’s passions are the same as our own – who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  We need friends who will be honest with us and friends whom we can trust to keep us accountable.  They are a great source of growth in my life.

I would encourage you to seek out these people in your own life, and ask God to help you humbly consider whatever correction they may bring.

Again, I have written about this several times before…but why would you want to give away part of your heart or body to someone who is not your spouse?  I emphatically encourage you to save all you possibly can for that one person until your wedding day.  What is a heart that is torn into a hundred different pieces for a hundred different people?  God can and will forgive mistakes like that, but the truth remains that your heart can never be completely the same.  Would you like to receive a small piece of a torn-up heart, or one whole and beating with passion?

Save all you can, and you and whomever you marry one day, if God allows, will both rejoice – though it may be hard at times before then – it will be more than worth it.