When I grow up… ?
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1Tim 4:12)
This is a common question when interviewing young people – ‘what do you want to become when you grow up?’ And many quickly say – a doctor, a lawyer, and engineer, a pilot, a farmer, a teacher…; these childhood dreams soon become hazy towards the end of secondary school and many start wondering what the future will be like. Around such a time in the story of Joseph (Gen 37), he had childhood dreams that he shared with his siblings and parents, and he was rebuked and hated. Around the time when things become hazy and you wonder what the future holds, remember that God has a purpose for you, and seek to connect with God. Joseph’s were not mere individualistic aspirations but downloads of God’s purpose.
Along the path of growth, some young people make their names and get recognized for excelling in athletics, academics, music and dance, or as leaders, while others are known for championing wrong like fighting, escaping from school, drug abuse, leading strikes, or that girl that got pregnant and dropped out of school. These loud youth are then admired by many of their peers who are looking for an example to emulate. What kind of example are you? And what kind of people do you look up to as examples? When you see such rising stars, it is evidence that God our Creator has embedded in us gifts and talents that can be of influential value even at a young age; but we must seek to connect with God’s purpose in order to make the best of these gifts.
Timothy while still a youth distinguished himself as a faithful disciple and one who could become a leader and a pastor. Plugging into God’s purpose saw him rise to lead the Church at Ephesus, and receive letters that have come down to us as Scripture. His youthful days were put to good use, and his dreams were well directed. If he received some ridicule from people around him, like Joseph did, he must have stayed his focus and followed through his dreams diligently. Don’t wait to ‘grow up’ in order to connect with God’s purpose for your life; tomorrow has its own mission, but today has a mission too, even in your youth. Some youth are despised, but others just despise themselves! Do not succumb to either. Today, set a good example… seek to connect with God because He surely has a purpose for you.
Peace be with you!