During the apostle Paul’s second preaching tour, he met a young man named Timothy. Paul was so impressed with him that he wanted Timothy to accompany him on his journey (Acts 16:3). As Luke introduced Timothy in this passage, we can see that it was not just Paul who held this young man in high regard.
“Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:1-2).
What made Timothy such an outstanding young man? The passage above does not give us much information (other than the fact that he was “a disciple”), yet we learn more from Paul’s second letter to Timothy about what set him apart from others.
- He had a sincere faith – “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” (2 Timothy 1:5). This means his faith was genuine and without hypocrisy. By the way he lived his life, he proved that he believed in God and had an earnest desire to do His will.
- He was grounded in the Scriptures – “And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). He learned God’s word from an early age, and he carried it with him throughout his life.
Timothy had a genuine faith that was visible to others. He learned the Scriptures from an early age and knew what was right. This is not typical for most young people, so these characteristics set him apart. But how could he continue to distinguish himself? Notice what Paul told him to do in his first letter:
- He was to set a godly example – “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). He was to live in such a way that others could look up to him – even his older brethren. He was not to use his youth as an excuse for immature, irreverent, or wicked behavior.
- He was to continue to make progress – “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:13-15). He needed to focus on the Scriptures and continue to grow in his knowledge and understanding of them. As he continued doing the work of an evangelist, his growth was to be evident to those who knew him.
- He was to persevere in what was true and right – “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). He needed to remain faithful to not forfeit his salvation. He was also to recognize his influence upon others, knowing that if he failed to live as he should, it could cause others to reject the message he was preaching.
The world tempts young people (and those who are not so young) to distinguish themselves by abandoning this foundation of faith in God and trust in His word. The world calls young people to pursue wealth, prominence, influence, higher education, power, and fame and ignore the things of God. One can use any or all of these things for good, yet the message of the world is that serving God is a distraction from one’s efforts to be all they can be. Sadly, many fall for this lie. Like Demas, who “loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10), they desert God and His people in the hopes of gaining the temporal things of this life.
However, even if one could obtain all of the wealth, prominence, influence, higher education, power, and fame this world has to offer, none of it will amount to anything in the end. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
As young people make plans for the future and what they hope to accomplish in this life, we must encourage them to follow the Lord and build their lives upon a solid foundation. Notice what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).
No matter what one might accomplish in this life, if they have not built upon the solid rock, their efforts will be for nothing. The foundation of one’s life must be that they heard the Lord’s words and obeyed them. As we encourage young people to be the best they can be and do great things in this life, let us not neglect to remind them that all of this must start with their faithful obedience to Christ.
