1 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.”
From the text, it appears that Timothy possessed a nature similar to each one of us, the desire and need for acceptance. The word Paul uses for “despise” means disesteem or to think against; in Timothy’s case the reason for this possible resentment was his age. Timothy’s usefulness in the ministry far exceeded his years; yet time had not permitted him the opportunity to prove it. When Paul said, “Let no man”, the thought is not even one, no one no matter who they might be. When Paul confronts his comrade in the letter addressed to him, Timothy hadS taken on the considerable challenge of giving stability to the churches in the area around Ephesus. Most, if not all of his work would be that of giving guidance and instruction to those that were his senior. The question was; would Timothy be met with the spirit of acceptance?
If Timothy was to get the help he needed concerning acceptance, he would have to discern the difference between his problem and his perception. Not only did he perceive that his problem was personal rejection, but so do most of individuals that read the account of Paul’s admonishment to his comrade. Pause and read the text slowly; Paul’s said, “Let no man despise thy youth.” Paul’s emphasis is upon “youth” and not “you.”
Paul wanted Timothy to know that it was a question of youthful productivity and not you personally. Look at the text; most people mentally read it subconsciously leaving out the word “youth”; the object in question was “youth” and not “you.” This is the same problem that God had to correct in the life of Samuel when Israel cried out for a king. When you carefully study out I Samuel 8:5, “Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations”; you discover that the nation of Israel’s real interest was, not so much a change in personnel, but a change in position; they wanted someone that would assume the post of a secular potentate, rather than assume the role of a spiritual prophet.
This emphasis is farther seen in the words of the LORD, “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them (I Samuel 8:7). Stop and read the text again; the real problem was not with Samuel, but with sovereignty; “that I should not reign over them.” God tells Samuel that the problem is not him personally, or the fact that Jehovah is the God of Israel; it was that they don’t want God to assume His position as Jehovah. They don’t want a sovereign to be king, to rule or consult by exercising the function of a monarch; they don’t want anyone to assume a position that was above or over them! While we know that with respect to position and person, the two can’t be separated; their problem was with the position of God and not the person of God. Just as man will never accept God for who He is, until they accept God for what He is; people will never accept you for who you are until they accept you for what you are.
Why is it important to understand the truth that is being set forth in I Samuel 8 and I Timothy 4:12? The truth is, “When you get them to accept your position you get them to accept your person!” This divine truth covers the entire spectrum of life; it is true for pastoring a church, serving as an evangelist, you as a spouse or parent; it is universal! It is imperative that you understand that until they accept the position, they will never accept the person! If you never get a grip on this, you are destined to take everything as a personal attack and live constantly on the defensive, ever experiencing all the frustrations associated with it. You assume you are the problem and the best way to handle the situation is by force, running over anyone that you think is against you or by forfeiting, you accept defeat and you run away.
What is the answer to the problem of acceptance? Note the method that Paul sets forth in the text. Paul word of admonishment was not telling him to take the position by constraint, but by convincing; it’s not in warring, but in wooing that acceptance would come! This is expressed in the phrase, “but be thou an example.” Woe them by being a model of the real thing; acceptance is in seeing and not in saying! But what is it that they are to see, the constraint of a sovereign or the character of a servant? Paul tells Timothy to let them see “an example of the believers”; those that were faithful, trustworthy, and worthy to be believed.
Let me give you a couple of examples of this principle in action. In the foreword in Brother Scott Pauley’s book on marriage, Dr. Charles Keen wrote, “Over the years, we have become accustomed to expect Brother Pauley to give Bible truths that are theologically correct, clear, well researched, and given with his trademark – relevant applications.” Dr. Keen is several years Brother Pauley’s senior; the elder’s acceptance of the younger is the result of the example that Brother Pauley has set before Dr. Keen. Note the emphasis on being a persist example, “we have become accustomed.”
Secondly, when people are looking for a commentary on a book of the Bible and they go into a bookstore for the purpose of getting help. Among the commentaries is one by John Phillips and one by Bob Sanders; in most every case, they will select the volume by Phillips over mine. Why; because they have grown to respect and accept Dr. Phillips’ positon as a writer; therefore the acceptance of the person is in response to the acceptance of his position. Their choice as not because they thought that he was a better person than me, but a better writer.
Paul sets forth the method of being “an example of the believers.” The word “example” has the idea of a die so as to strike leaving an impression, stamp or scar, to be a resemblance, model or sampler. The word also emphasizes the idea of a model of some reality which is yet to appear, a prototype or that with which was yet to be developed and evolved. Don’t miss the fundamental truth that Paul has placed before his young comrade; “Lead by example!” If you want their acceptance assume the position of a model or prototype of what they are to become in Christ as the children of God! A writer of yesteryear said, “The first duty is not to preach and teach, but to display in one’s own life the truth he believes and teaches.” Timothy is not to be an example to the believers, but an “example of the believers.”
In addition to the method, Paul emphasizes the means whereby the model is to be developed; “in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Please note the repetitive use to the word “in.” The word means to be at rest in place or occupying a fixed position in time, place, or state. It is remaining or coming to rest within a definite place or limits. When I think of this, I am persuaded that Paul is emphasizing a state of being; it is more than just something that Timothy is to be working toward, but that which is to become his spiritual residence. Being an example is not something Timothy does, it is something that he has become; he is at rest there! Timothy is the “example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” The revelation and the residence serve to woe the senior observers to the peaceful state of acceptance.