March 3rd, 2025
“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.”
“Am I too young to be used by God?”. Maybe this is a question you’ve asked yourself before, or perhaps you’ve already assumed you’re too young to be used by God for something incredible. If this thought is something you currently think, I honestly don’t blame you. It certainly doesn’t make it easy to believe God can use you when you’re likely constantly hearing about how bad your generation is.
Unfortunately, older generations tend to critique and complain about every generation that follows it. Boomers think Gen X kids are wild, Gen X thinks Millennials are lazy, Millennials think Gen Z is self-absorbed, and I’m sure you, Gen Z, think Gen Alpha is cooked. These criticisms can create an environment where someone like you in high school may think, “God wouldn’t use me.” Plus, when we look at other believers around us who seem to be more passionate about Jesus, more knowledgeable about the bible, more mature, and more “talented” than we are, we may think, “God will use that person instead of me,” “When I’m older then God can use me.” However, old age has never been required for God to choose someone for something extraordinary. We see this truth in Timothy's life in the Bible, a young man whom God chose for a big responsibility!
Timothy was a young mentee of Paul the Apostle, travelling with Paul on many of his missionary journeys. While journeying with Paul on one of these missionary journeys, Paul received word from one of the churches he helped build in a town called Ephesus that people were disrupting the community of believers, spreading lies about Jesus and his teachings, and causing disunity among the people of God. To help resolve the issue, Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus so that he could correct the false teachings, discipline those in error and return order to the congregation. This job Timothy was given was no small task! Especially being a person who was mostly younger than all the people he would soon be leading, he would be giving correction and instruction to those older than him, of which many would have thought Timothy was too young and unqualified to lead. Tradition has it that Timothy was likely a timid individual, a person like you and I, who had self-doubt and likely thought, “Maybe I’m too young to be leading these people?”. But listen to the encouragement Paul gives Timothy in our devotion today!
“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.”
To Paul, Timothy’s age was not something that would disqualify him from leading this church, nor would it be something that should discredit Timothy’s leadership. More important than age was the example Timothy was displaying for those watching his leadership. It was Timothy’s actions matching his words and commitment to Christ that would help bring about the difference that needed to happen in Ephesus. Similarly, your age does not determine the kind of difference you can for God; it is how willing you are to live and lead the way Jesus wants you to.
Although Timothy was a church leader, Paul’s advice applies to us today. It doesn’t matter what age you are—whether you’re in your first year of high school or just about to graduate—God can use your life for his glory!
And being used by God for something amazing does not have to mean becoming a pastor or ending world hunger, although all these things are great. Participating in the work of Jesus can be as simple as being the light of Christ in your classroom, setting an example of what a godly life looks like with your family at home, or calling out evil and wrongdoing when you see it happening. What specifically God chooses to do with you isn’t important. What is important, however, is for you to know that God can and wants to use you, no matter your age. It doesn’t matter how old you are; all God needs to do something amazing with your life is a willing heart!
Challenge for the Week
Take a moment this week to pray and tell God you are willing to be used by him. Then, brainstorm one thing you can do to bring the light of Christ to those around you. If you need help, reach out to a leader or a Christian friend to brainstorm ideas you can do.