At times it’s easy for those of us advanced in age to become overconfident in our acquired wisdom. We have lived long, seen much, experienced life, and made the hard decisions, therefore we have a larger library of experience at hand as we face the daily struggles of life. When I often find myself privately shaking my head at this younger generation, wondering if they ever apply any thought processes before they act, I am immediately convicted to confess and correct that critical spirit as it bubbles up within me. Although it is true that age generally begets wisdom, never overlook the fact that true wisdom is gifted from God. Not books, not age, not heredity, not the internet, just God. If a young man or woman willingly walks hand-in-hand with God, commits to His will, and floods his or her soul in Scripture, wisdom will be the fruit, regardless of age.
My Bible reading today revolved around the story of a young king of Judah, Josiah. I can’t imagine an eight-year old king, and not just any king, but the honored roll of being the anointed king over God’s precious people. How does someone so young even process the fact that he is the king? But God had blessed young Josiah with a wisdom beyond his years. Although he was brought to the throne during an dark time of idolatry and backsliding in Judah, we are reminded that amid all that corrupt culture and sin, Josiah “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD…and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” He stood firm with His God and led a revival in Jerusalem, destroyed idol worship, punished evildoers, and reinstituted the Passover celebration. He “rent his clothes” at the reading of Scripture and was blessed by God because his “heart was tender” and he “humbled” himself before the God of Israel. He didn’t follow the crowd, this young man led the crowd.
Just because you are young doesn’t mean that you have to be foolish. You may not have the experience of those who are your senior, and there will be times that mistakes are made. Seek out God’s Word, pray for His guidance, learn from those errors in judgment, and gain wisdom and experience. Never forget that God’s wisdom is available to us regardless of age, as long as we are tender and humble in His sight and avail ourselves to His Word on a consistent basis. Consistent, that means every day! Spend time with the Author of wisdom. Seek insight from His Word, apply that wisdom to Your heart, follow Him in obedience and submission, and no one will “…despise thy youth.”
I 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.
All wisdom comes from You, dear Father. Help me to always avail myself to the true wisdom freely given to us through Your Word and Your Spirit. Help me to spend time daily at Your feet, in Your Word, learning and growing. Give me a desire to pattern my lives according to that blessed Book. Grant me hearing ears and a submissive heart as I grow in Your marvelous grace.