Youth

by Renfrew, J. | Category: For Young Believers | Jun 1955

Youth and the prime of life are vanity. So wrote Solomon the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. He also added words of counsel to young men, "Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, or ever the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" (Ecclesiastes 12.1). The Scriptures make it clear that certain youths so acted and became mighty instruments in the hands of God for the accomplishing of His will and purpose.

Joseph was one such. As a lad seventeen years of age, he had already learned to fear God and depart from evil. He did not join with his brethren in an evil purpose. Indeed he is described in Genesis 49.26 as" him that was separate from his brethren." Separation may be a difficult matter at times, but it has its recompense in the sight of God.

When God chose a man to be a preserver of the ancient world He chose Joseph (Psalm 105.17) and sent him to Egypt. He tried him in the house of Potiphar and in the prison, and Joseph was found faithful in little things; therefore God entrusted him with greater things. The Lord Jesus said that he that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much (Luke 16.10).

In God's time Joseph was exalted next to Pharaoh on the throne of Egypt, and into the hands of this young man, thirty years of age, were committed the rule and sustenance of the nation of Egypt What responsibility, and how well he fulfilled it!

We might well ask, What was the secret of such success? Was it not those decisions which he made early in life to honour God? Whence received he his wisdom? Was it not from the Spirit of God (Genesis~1. 38)?

Daniel also and his companions were youths who made decisions in their early lives; decisions made from a deep-seated purpose to honour God and obey His Word. God likewise honoured them by exalting them to eminent places in the kingdom of Babylon.

We might quote other examples in the Scriptures such as David Solomon, and Josiah, who sought the Lord early in their lives and' were used by Him in fulfilling His will.

God has also spoken through younger men. Though "days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom," yet this is not invariably so. As Elihu listened to Job's three friends and gave precedence to them because they were older than himself, he found that they failed to answer Job, nor did they speak of God the things that were right, and then he spake, saying, "There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding. It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that understand judgement." One has said in former pages of Needed Truth, "The ways and words of older ones are not always right, any more than the conduct and teaching of younger ones are always wrong."

Zechariah was a young man used of God to stir up His people in the building of the house of God (Ezra 5.1; Zechariah 2.4). Timothy also, Paul's fellow-worker unto the kingdom of God, was used of the Lord in His work. The apostle John wrote to young men who were strong because the Word of God abode in them and they had over come the evil one (1 John 2.14).

As in earthly callings, days of youth are days of apprenticeship,

80 also in the things of God. Hence the exhortation of Paul to Timothy, "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2.15).

"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth"

(Lamentations 3.27).

Renfrew, J. | Jun 1955
For Young Believers