Recognizing the Youth in the Service of God

The Apostle Paul advised Timothy that: “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.” (1Timothy 4:12 NIV).

We live in a society where old age is very much revered, and rightly so. All of us know and recognize the immense contributions made by the older generation. Unfortunately, we do not show much appreciation for the contributions made by the youth in the Church or society in general. The youth deserve recognition and respect, particularly in Church. According to Paul, they can gain recognition and respect by setting examples for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Today, we will learn about two young people in the Bible who set examples by making themselves as instruments through which God’s miracles were performed. You do not know their names; no one does. Yet, they were the unsung hero and heroine in two great miracles.

The story about our heroine is found in 2 Kings 5: 1-15. Some people from the land of Aram went to Israel and captured people, including a young girl. In Aram, this captive young girl from Israel served in the household of Naaman’s. Naaman was, the commander of the army. The young girl noticed that her master, Naaman, had leprosy, a disease that made a person a social outcast in those days. The young girl told Naaman’s wife that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman of the leprosy if only Naaman would go to see him in Israel. Naaman went to Israel and was healed by Prophet Elisha.

Let’s look at three things about this captive young girl from Israel. First, she had love and compassion for Naaman. Naaman was an enemy, a major part of the power structure that had kept her in captivity in the foreign land. In spite of that, she did what Jesus says all of us should do: love our enemies. Second, the young girl did not forget her God and Prophet Elisha even in a foreign land. On the face of it, it would seem this girl was unlucky. Of all the places she could have been kept in the land of Aram, she found herself in the household of the commander of the army, and surrounded by armed guards. Her chances of escape were slim to none! Through it all, she did not blame God and still had faith in him. God must have placed her there for a reason. Third, the young girl shared her faith with her captors, and what a great testimony it became. She confidently told Naaman’s wife that if Naaman went to Israel, he would be healed by the prophet, and she was right.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. There may have been many adults from Israel in the land of Aram who knew more about Elisha, but did not share that information with Naaman. What the young girl did was a courageous act of faith. She did not only put her faith in God on the line, she put her own life at stake. Can you imagine what would have happened to this young girl if Naaman had not been healed after making the long trip to Israel? Remember that the young girl first told Naaman’s wife who told Naaman,, and Naaman told the King of Aram who wrote a letter to be taken to the King of Israel asking him to heal Naaman. When the King of Israel read the letter, he was confused because he had no power to heal anyone, and he thought the King of Aram was only trying to instigate a war. Elisha heard about it and asked Naaman to come to him and Naaman was healed after dipping himself seven times in River Jordan upon the instructions of Elisha. Therefore, the young girl would have had to answer to many angry people, including Naaman and his wife, the King of Aram, and the servants who accompanied Naaman on his journey to Israel. All of us know what would have happened to the young girl, but God rescued her and brought healing and salvation to Naaman. Similarly, God will protect and rescue us from danger in the course of doing his work.

The young girl must have heard of Elisha or seen him back home in Israel performing miracles in God’s name. We have a similar story to tell to people around us who are in need of God’s grace, mercy, and salvation. You and I know or have heard a lot about God and can testify to them. For example, do we not know or have we not heard that God loves the world so much that he gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will not perish, but have everlasting life? (John 3:16). Sure we have! Do we not know or have we not heard that Jesus said that come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest? (Matthew 11:28). Sure we have! Do we not know or have we not heard that it is appointed unto man to die once and after that judgement? (Hebrews 9:27). Sure we have! And do we not know or have we not heard about what Jesus said that he is the way the truth and the life and that no man goes to the father except through him? (John 14:6). Sure we have! Therefore, we know enough, and by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us and directs our ways, we can carry out the Great Commission that Jesus gave us – to go into the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

The hero in the second story is a boy. This is the well-known story about how Jesus fed 5,000 men by praying and giving thanks on five loaves of bread and two fish. All four Gospels recorded the story, but only the Gospel of John mentions the little hero, the boy who gave his bread and fish for the miracle, and even so, it does not mention his name. Therefore, many people have heard about the story, but no one knows the identity of the boy who provided the bread. He is my little hero. I like him for many reasons. First, he was there to see and listen to Jesus when people his age were out somewhere playing. He reminds me of the story about how Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary when Martha was busy preparing food etc. for Jesus, and Mary was sitting near Jesus listening to him, When Martha complained to Jesus to tell Mary to come and help her, Jesus declined saying that Mary had chosen what was best (Luke 10:38-42). Many of us have busy schedules. The lesson learned is that of all the important things that compete for our time, nothing is more important than being with and listening to Jesus.

Second, the boy went there prepared -- with food. I would say that he was well prepared and must have had a strong appetite for food. How many of us carry five loaves of bread to fellowships and crusades etc. This young boy had five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish. He was the kind of boy you would not want your child to bring home for dinner many times. He could do a lot of damage to your food budget in these hard economic times. Third, the boy gave his food to the disciples for the miracle. Do you think the boy was the only person there with food? I do not think so. I think that many of the adults had food, but started hiding it when they saw that the disciples were looking for food to perform the miracle. No one knew what was going to happen if a person gave his or her food; it could have disappeared without a trace. You may have heard about how some people would delay eating their meals at home if a visitor showed up unannounced. It is an African tradition to invite a visitor to join you for meals even though he or she may have come unannounced and you had not budgeted for additional person at the table. It is part of “African hospitality,” it is a formality, but what if the visitor actually decides to eat when you did not plan for additional person, and what if he or she has a strong appetite like the boy in the story? The boy with strong appetite gave his food. Thus, he fulfilled what Jesus says that give and it will be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38).

Again, don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Don’t let your young age deter you from offering yourself to the service of God or man. Age has not been the decisive factor in God’s dealings with his people. God provides adequate resources for those whom he selects for tasks. Consider the following other examples from the Bible where relatively younger people in the family were chosen over older ones for God’s Glory:

• God accepted younger Abel’s sacrifice, but rejected older brother Cain’s. (Genesis 4:1-7).

• Isaac was chosen over his older brother Ishmael (Genesis 17:19-21).

• Jacob was chosen over his older brother Esau (Genesis 27).

• Joseph was chosen over his ten older brothers (Genesis 37).

• Moses was chosen over his older brother Aaron to lead Israel out of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 3).

• Ephraim was chosen over his older brother Manasseh for more blessings (Genesis 48:13-20).

• Gideon was chosen over his older siblings to lead Israel to defeat the Midianites (Judges 6:11-16).

• David was chosen over his seven older brothers (1 Samuel 16).

• Solomon was chosen over his older brothers as King of Israel. (1 Kings 1: 28-53).

Likewise, you may be the youngest person in your family or the lowest person in your Church or organization, but you stand an equal chance before God to be chosen for his Glory. Remember that promotion does not come from the east or the west, but from God who brings one person down and exalts another (Psalm 75:6-7).

Therefore, strive to be that person whom God chooses for his work, by setting example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and in purity. However, do not wait till you feel you are perfect because that day may never come. Our God is able if you offer yourself just as you are. God is able to cleanse and equip anyone with all the resources required to excel in the assigned task. As the hymnist says, “just as I am without one plea, but that thou Blood was shed for me; And that thou bidd’st me come to Thee; O Lamb of God, I come.” That is how we come to the Almighty God – just as we are. We do not come to God as perfect saints, but as penitent sinners saved by his grace and seeking to do the master’s will.

Nowhere in the two stories did someone say “thank you” to the young girl or boy whose names we do not know. Does it sound familiar? Does it sound familiar that sometime you do great work, but there is no reward, or that another person receives the reward? For example, how much of the 12 baskets of leftover bread and fish do you think the boy received? Do you think the young girl regained her freedom? In times like these, remember what Paul said in Colossians 3:23-24 that whatever we do, we should work at it with all our hearts as working for the Lord, not men, and that it is the Lord we are serving and He will reward us.

The important thing is that the two youngsters in the stories chose to act when adults would not. We may never know their names, and what they did may seem little, but through their actions, miracles happened. Naaman received healing and salvation, five thousand men were fed, and God’s name was glorified. Do not wait till you can do big things for God; with God, little is much. The two became part of God’s instruments to reach out to mankind. And for that, they, and all youths who work diligently in the Lord’s vineyard, deserve God’s blessing and our recognition.

Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers.

Dr. Daniel Gyebi, Attorney-at-Law, Texas, U.S.A., and Founder, PrayerHouse Ministry, Kumasi, Ghana.

PrayerHouse Ministry is dedicated to providing a quiet facility for Christians to pray individually by themselves without any intermediary priest, pastor or any other person. This is a free service. No money is demanded or accepted. The facility is located at Kyerekrom / Fumesua, near Building and Road Research Institute Offices, one mile off the Kumasi-Accra Road and next to a house called Grace Castle. If you are interested, please contact Agnes at 027-7423815.