1 Timothy 4:11-16
"Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch you life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
The term "Teen" or "Teenager" is a fairly new term. This term was not used until the 1920's. Before this time the only age groupings used where, "Child", "Adult", "Elderly". Before the term "teenager" came about, a person went straight from being a "child", a person dependent on an adult, to an adult, a person that is a viable contributor to society and community.
I know what you are thinking, "Childhood must of lasted till 18 or 20 years of age!" On the contrary, childhood stopped at around 10-12 years of age. At this time a child would step into adult responsibility. A child would move from limited to no responsibilities to having all the expectations of an adult. They were expected to hold a job. They were expected to act maturely. They were expected to not do dumb stuff. They were expected to not waste there life. They had expectations...TIMES HAVE CHANGED!
I asked the group last Wednesday to describe to me what is expected of teenagers today, according to what culture says. These were some of their answers: 1) to be irresponsible 2) to be immature 3) to be sexually active 4) to be goof-offs 5) to be apathetic 6) to be care free with their lifestyle 7) not to care about others 8) to be rebellious 9) to cheat 10) not have clean rooms 11) to drive fast, and many other things. The unfortunate truth is this... students or "Teenagers" have bought this lie! The SCARY thing is this... Adults have too and thus enable all the things listed above to be part of young peoples lives, and to that I say, "SHAME ON US AS ADULTS!!!"
In the above passage of scripture we see Paul give instruction to Timothy. This instruction did not empower Timothy, as a young person, to be immature, irresponsible, act stupidly or in immature ways, or anything else except what God says for us to do and to be. God chose Timothy to be a leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul was encouraging Timothy to understand and believe in this truth that we have heard many times before, "Who God calls/chooses, God equips!"
Do you believe that? What has God chose you to do?
Some of you are thinking, "Yeah Bo, but Timothy was not a teenager, I should have some wiggle room because I am younger than he was!" Or maybe you are thinking this, parents..."My kid is only 12, and they are better than most kids I know there age."
My answer to these questions is, "Let's look at scripture." Back to our passage above, we see Paul tells Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young..." Let's stop here. I might be wrong but I venture to say that everyone reading this has a person older than them in there life. We all are younger than someone, except for one person in the world, the oldest person in the world. With this thought in mind, we need to read the rest of the verse, "BUT set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." WOW, did you see it? We all have responsibility to set an example to people that are older than we are, except for one (and this person is included with all of us to obey scripture that points us to teach and lead people that are younger than us, namely Titus 2). So whether you are the age that Timothy was or not is not the issue. The issue is you are young, so set an example by believing the truth and rejecting lies! Parents, don't believe the lies the from Hell that says your kid should be overlooked and not held to high standards! Communicate with them and create high expectations for them and with them that will allow them to set an example to the believers that might not be living in the power of the Holy Spirit! Don't you settle for non-discipled kids...disciple them in the ways of Truth! Have guts to train them in ways that will set them apart from any other person their age. Allow them to be challenged and to challenge others to live more like Christ. THE STANDARD YOU ARE TO LEAD YOUR CHILD IN IS NOT OTHER CHILDREN!!! IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!!!
So let's look at another example in Scripture that should help us understand this. Old school style...I LOVE THIS...you ready...
2 Chronicles 34:1-3
"Josiah was EIGHT years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. In the EIGHTH year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David."
How old was Josiah when he was place in a position with great responsibility?
Did Josiah please or displease God with his life?
How old was Josiah when he began to seek the LORD?
What is you excuse? Have you bought the lie that "I'm just a teenager and I'll grow up one day." or "My kid is just a teen and they will grow up one day."?
I love you! That is why I want to raise the bar of expectations for you both as a student and a parent. Students are being challenged to learn Calculus, Biology, Trigonometry, and many other words I can't spell. Are we as a church and as parents willing to challenge them to know, understand, and live scripture. Seems to be a lot more purpose in light of eternity if we would.
Let us not listen to the lie of Satan! Let us dive into the Word and believe the Word with all that we are, out of a great and deep love of the Father, who allows us to love in the first place.
Until next time...
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