The Walk of Youth

The Walk of Youth In this day and age, the actions of youth are being closely watched. It is fitting, therefore, that we take a good look at a verse of Scripture in the first epistle to Timothy which clearly sets forth the importance and responsibility of the younger generation. I Timothy 4:12: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Let us take this verse line by line and word by word in order to see the true beauty in the accuracy of God’s matchless Word. “Let no man despise thy youth.” The word “man” is an inclusive noun. We are told to allow no one, Christian or non-Christian, believer or unbeliever, to despise our youth. The word “despise” means “to think disparagingly of.” Matthew 18:10: Take heed that ye despise not [think disparagingly of] one of these little ones. Young people are to so condition their thinking, their work and their pattern of living, that no one can think disparagingly of them. In the Biblical usage of the word “youth” lies an illuminating truth. In the Bible a young person is referred to as a youth until he reaches thirty years of age. According to Jewish custom no person was allowed to teach until he was thirty years old nor was he considered for membership in the Sanhedrin (ruling body of Israel) until he had reached thirty. Abraham took Isaac to the top of Mount Moriah when Isaac was thirty years of age. Joseph was thirty when Pharaoh appointed him ruler of Egypt. Jesus did not begin His teaching ministry until reaching the age of thirty. This same word “youth” is used in the Gospels when Jesus was talking to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:20; Luke 18:21). This man was very wealthy and yet only a youth under thirty years old. The word “but” in I Timothy 4:12 sets that which precedes in contrast with that which follows, “but be thou [youth] an example.” The word “be” means “to become or to come into a particular state or co