Let no one

Let no one

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12

Chapter four of 1 Timothy Paul is warning Timothy to watch out for those who would teach things that are wrong, and to stay true to the doctrines he has learned.
In verse twelve is given a word of advise that we should all take to heart.  To be an example to those around us.
Being a Christian is a full time thing, it is a lifestyle, not something nice to do when we go to church or when we feel like it.
Mahatma Gandhi said of those who professed to be Christians
Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.
                                                                                            Mahatma Gandhi
I’ve had a lot of none-Christians say to me,  “why should I be a Christian because I’ve seen what they do and I’m better than that.”
We as believers need to draw closer to God each day.  We need to put our trust in Him and allow Him to work in us and through us in such a way, that the world sees a difference between what they are doing and us.
All too often, people are turned away from Christ, because they don’t believe we are practising what we preach.
Young Christians entering the church full of enthusiasm have that zeal deadened because they fail to see older Christians setting an example.
Paul tells Timothy
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,in purity."
                                1 Timothy 4:12

We need to set an example of how to live, in all aspects of our life. We need to show God come first in our life.
I was always taught that the order of priority for any Christian, be they a pastor, evangelist, or the average person sitting in the pew, is God first, family second, our ministry then ourselves.
It is true we need balance in our lives. Some one said “it is possible to be so heavenly minded that we become no earthly good.” We cannot and should not allow that to happen. Nor can we let the things of this world draw us away from God.
Work is a necessity for all of us. Things such as sports, dance classes, and other recreational activities are good in their place but they should never keep us from God.
For me there is no debate, especially on a Sunday, between going to a sports event, a movie, the theatre or other recreational event.
My attendance at a worship service comes first. My extended family, my brother and sister, none believers accept this fact and respect my beliefs. They even accommodate my beliefs and lifestyle at family gatherings.
I have also instilled on my children over the years the need to put God first. Today while they have a strong work ethic and active social lives God always comes first.
They are active both inside and outside the church walls. Witnessing to people by their lifestyle choice, in deed as well as in word. Which makes me as their father proud.
Now my family is no different than any other family and we are far from perfect we fall short many times. Never the less we pick ourselves up and keep on living for Christ.
And looking around at the friends we have and others within our church I see they are doing what we do also. So if we can do it anyone can.
Paul’s call to Timothy is also to us to,
“ be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,in purity”
Think about it.