Youth Need to Stop Talking and Start Listening

1 Timothy 4:…11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.…

This verse is often used by charismatics to say that Timothy should be revered in his youthfulness. That he should never allow others to judge him based on his youth. It is used to justify very young people in ministry leadership positions.

At closer inspection it seems more likely that God is telling Timothy not to be disrespectful or do anything that might foster a reason for people to refuse to listen to him.

I understand it this way because over my lifetime I have seen arrogant youth who think they no longer have to listen to others who are older and wiser. They elevate themselves to the same level as those who should be honored by the youth.

When young people refuse to acknowledge the wisdom of the elders they are displaying disrespect and superiority over their elders. It is dishonoring and repugnant to the elder to be treated as an equal or even inferior to the youth. It is less likely that the elders will listen to this arrogant and superior demonstration from the youth who attempt to dominate over their elders.

Young people need to be spending far more time listening than they do speaking. In these last days of 2 Timothy 3 we live in a world that elevates youth above elders and wisdom.

The youth of today tend to think if they have a thought in their head it equates to wisdom, just merely having the thought should bring them praise and adulation. Sort of like the ball youth sports that people attend in which every child gets a prize even if they lose. The youth of today expect to be praised, elevated and treated as princes and princesses without having to earn anything.

It takes many years for wise people to become wise. It takes many real life experience, and I do not mean play and travel, for them to develop the wisdom to be able to think in the correct manner.

There is nothing more agonizing to be in the same room with arrogant self righteous know it alls who believe they are equal to and above those who have lived much longer than they.

“If you fear nothing, then you are not brave. You are merely too foolish to be afraid.” Author Unknown

"The fool wonders, the wise man asks". - Benjamin Disraeli

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." - Psalm 14:1

"The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way." - Josh Billings

- 1 Corinthians 1:20
"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? "

When we attempt to speak wisdom to a foolish person they will claim that we are the fools. The more we try to convince them of the wisdom from God, the more they will kick against it. Why, we ask ourselves do they do this? The reason is simple, the fool must be seen as right no matter how silly their argument. They don't care that they are wrong, they only care that they assert themselves. Many fools even know they are wrong but will fight to defend their way in spite of it.

You see, a fool is more interested in winning an argument than they are in discovering truth.

This is the world we live in now, it is not easy, the disrespect and lack of good old fashioned horse sense is nearly gone and there are few that will listen.

Many believers hold on to the foolishness of psychology and the ways of the world when they could humble themselves, ask God for wisdom and proceed to grow in holiness and the wisdom they so desperately need.

Galatians 3:3
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

Proverbs 13:20
"Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. - Proverbs 13:20"

If our constant companions are those who think more in worldly ways than in the wisdom of God, then we will be convinced of the worldly ways.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"