Young Stars

UV 4273/10000 Young Stars Let no one look down on ( you because of ) your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in ( moral) purity. I Timothy 4 v 12 Paul exhorts his young mentee to not be diffident on account of his youth. Instead, to be a leader of the early church, to be an example for all irrespective of their age in terms of his communication, his behaviour, his love for all people, his faith and his standards of integrity in private life. In short, Paul expected Timothy to be mature, responsible and disciplined beyond his years. He urged him to strive for perfection for Our Father in heaven and His Son as well as the Holy Spirit are perfect. The first area highlighted is speech for in the book of James it is written that the man who can control his tongue, he is to be regarded as perfect. He should not give offense to both God and man in the manner and in what he speaks. He is to avoid loose talk, gossip, slander, vulgarity, cursing, speaking in haste or in anger and regretting later. Next to the discipline of the tongue comes the discipline of the behaviour of the disciple. We should not show pride, self righteousness, arrogance, greed or lust in anything we do and instead be a model of humility and gentleness like the Lord Jesus taught us by example. The Christian leader should be imbued with love for all people- believers and non believers, looking at the latter with compassion, empathy and understanding. Paul majored on love and in his letter to the Corinthian believers wrote the most beautiful, elegant and comprehensive description of Christ-like love. It explains what we should be and what we should not exhibit in terms of bitterness, pride, resentment, unforgiveness. We are not to keep a record of wrongs but be grateful for the good that the Lord and people have done for us. We are not to be jealous, or conceited or egoistic and consider others better than us. It, however, does not mean that we develop an inferiority complex in comparison with others but to concede to others respect, honour and opportunities. Our faith should be constantly exercised like a muscle for physical exercise is of some value but exercising our faith muscles is of eternal value. In encountering the giant or Goliath challenges of life that the faithful often encounter more often than those who have no such faith, we are to be bold, fearless, strong in the Lord like the young David. But unlike the older David, then king, we are to guard our purity of character and not be deceived in a moment of weakness by the enemy. We cannot as believers and Christian lead a double or secret life. We are to be ever vigilant to detect and deflect the attempts of the roaring lion -satan who wants us to drag our testimonial lives down into the mud. Like Joseph, we must flee from both temptations of the flesh and vanities of the mind. Youngsters are called by the Lord to be young stars and not fallen comets, burnt out by not living up to the exacting standards of Christian leadership and the discipline of the Lord.