Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You

A young man stands up to teach a room full of older people. Some of them fold their arms. Some of them whisper. He is holding a letter from an old friend, and in it are the words he needs.

Ephesus was one of the greatest cities of the Roman world, a busy harbour, packed streets, a huge theatre, and towering over it all, the famous temple of the goddess Artemis. A church had grown up there, and Paul had left his young helper Timothy in charge, to keep its teaching true. It was a hard job. Some people in the church were spreading strange ideas and silly myths. And Timothy was young, perhaps in his thirties, which in that world, among elders, still counted as young. Paul writes to him like a father to a son.

Paul begins with what Timothy should feed on. If you remind the believers of these things, Paul says, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of faith and good teaching. Have nothing to do with silly myths and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself for godliness. Paul loves sporting pictures, and here he uses one. Training the body is of some value, he says. But training in godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for this life, and for the life to come. This is why we work hard and struggle, Paul says, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.

Then come the words Timothy must have read many times. Let no man despise thy youth. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. But notice how Paul says Timothy should answer them. Not by arguing, or demanding respect. By living in such a way that people cannot help but notice. Be an example to the believers, Paul says, in what you say, in how you live, in love, in faith, and in purity. Five areas of life. Every one of them something a young person can do.

Paul gives him practical instructions too. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to encouraging people, and to teaching. In those days most people did not own scrolls, so hearing the scriptures read aloud in church mattered greatly. Do not neglect the gift you have, Paul adds, the gift given to you when the elders laid their hands on you. Think about these things. Give yourself to them completely, so that everyone can see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stick with it. If you do, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. So Timothy is not told to pretend to be older than he is. He is told to grow, and let people see him growing.

The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described it in his Natural History, telling of its enormous size and its forest of more than a hundred tall columns. The book of Acts records that Paul's preaching in Ephesus caused a riot among the silversmiths who made small shrines of Artemis.

Don't let anyone look down on you. You'll find Paul's words to Timothy in First Timothy chapter four, verses six to sixteen. Being young was not a reason to hold back. It was a chance to show what faith looks like. So here is a question to carry with you. In which of these, your words, your actions, love, faith or purity, could you be an example this week?