Articles
Young and Faithful
Paul instructs the young Timothy in II Timothy 2:3 that serving the Lord is not going to be easy when you are young, but Timothy stayed faithful. How did he stay faithful and what did he do? Whether you are young or old, you must have certain things in your life that will help you to be faithful to the Lord.
Timothy began his service to the Lord by being taught by Paul himself. II Timothy 1:2 Paul calls Timothy his beloved son. He had a faithful grandmother, Lois, and a faithful mother, Eunice. We are given no indication that his father was a follower of Christ. It is so important for a young child to have parents to lead them in their service to the Lord. Timothy had the blessing of faithful relatives that helped him to be faithful.
Timothy was like all young people faced with peer pressure and the lust of youthful life ( II Timothy 2:22 ). Paul continued to instruct Timothy to continue to fight the good fight. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells us “Remember now your creator in the days of your youth” and Timothy strived to do that.
Whether you were young in Timothy’s day or today, there are certain things you can do to stay faithful to God.
- Know God’s word. I Timothy 4:13 tells us “Til I come give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Take time each day to read God’s word, to attend local church Bible classes.
- Listen to godly relatives. Parents, you are responsible for teaching your children about God (Eph. 6:4). Young people today like to refer to their parents as old fashioned when in reality they are Bible fashioned.
- Be prepared to suffer. There will be some activities that other young people are involved in that you won’t be able to participate in. Your dress, your speech will be different in many ways. You will be made fun of and called names because of your faithfulness to God. II Timothy 1:8 Paul tells Timothy to “not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”
- Have good friends. Paul was probably his best friend. You need someone to help you, encourage you and even correct you. Proverbs 27:5-6.
- Care about other people and you will do all you can in living a godly example to help others. II Timothy 1:4 Paul mentions that Timothy had tears for those he preached to.
- Pray all the time. I Timothy 2:1 Paul tells Timothy “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.”
Timothy remained faithful at a young age and so can all young people today. As Paul said as he prepared to die in II Timothy 4:7 “You must fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith.”
