“AGE DOESN’T MATTER”
(Eccleciastes 12:1; I Timothy 4:12; II Timothy 1:5 & I Peter 4:10)
by C. James R. Betia
A message for the Youth Ministry Sunday of
Greenhills Christian Fellowship Sta. Rosa on November 19, 2006.
Introduction
A blessed evening to everyone! I thank God for the opportunity that He gave me to share with you what is closest in my heart- that is the Youth Ministry. I was assigned in the youth in my two former churches. I discipled young people from GCF Batangas and I mentored Youth leaders in a small church in Bulacan. To start up, I want to show you a short video clip showing how short our life is. (Show Life is Short Video Clip Commercial from Xbox, you can download from the net). Indeed, life is short. The wisest king ever lived here on earth wrote, “Remember our Creator in the days of our youth, before the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” Before I continue would you join me in a short prayer?
“Lord, I pray that You would speak to each one of us. I pray that Your words would accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. May it be in our hearts a potent seed ready to transform our lives. Lord, we pray that Your message would not only give us information but more so transformation. Be glorified, Oh God! Amen.”
I started serving the Lord when I was in first year high school (age 12). In a small church at Cabuyao. I was the overhead projector operator back then; sometimes I even helped in arranging the chairs. You know, I n my 10 years of ministry, I have seen people who were saved and dedicated their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and are still serving the Lord today. They always tell of their joy in the ministry and I never heard even one of them say, “I wish I have waited until I was older.” On the other hand, I have seen people who were saved in the latter years of their lives and express their regret of not giving their lives to God when they were younger. Most of them say, “I wish I have known the Lord in the early days of my life so that I have more time to serve Him.” As a response to this, I would like to call the young, those who still have the vigor and vitality to SUBMIT to God.
I. A Call to Young Ones to SUBMIT to God (Ecc. 12:1)
Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” Let’s focus on the word “REMEMBER.” To remember is not a simple recollection or recall, it has a deeper meaning of obeying and honoring. Actually, the original word means submission. I like the paraphrase of The Message, “Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young…” It has the idea of obedience and submission. Yes, I call the young people to submit to their God. Now notice the description used for God- CREATOR. It reminds us that we are created beings. We are not our own, we are not the boss of our lives. We cannot live our lives apart from the Creator God. Psalm 100:3 captures the whole idea when it says, “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” See, the center should be the One who created not the one created. Let’s return to Ecclesiastes. In the DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH. Young ones, rejoice for the Creator God calls you to remember Him and submit to Him… When? RIGHT NOW, when the energy and vigor is still there so as we will not hear ourselves say, “I wish I served the Lord when I was younger.”
Illustration: I knew of a good-looking young boy who attended a Youth Camp. He was 14 years old, starting the High School life. During the camp, there was what they call Talent’s Night wherein the campers are to perform and show his/her talent. His leader asked him what his talent was? The boy doesn’t know how to sing, or dance or play a musical instrument. So he was tasked to carry the “bamboo” that the performers will use for the dance number. The young boy sat on his chair the whole night watching other campers perform. The program ended and the campers went back to their cabins and prepared to sleep. But the young boy can’t sleep. Something is bothering his mind. He was so sad because he didn’t participate in the program. So he went out the cabin and started to cry, he was disappointed about not being able to perform because he don’t know anything to perform. He came to God and said, “Lord, I am very sad because I wasn’t able to offer You a song or a dance or even play an instrument. I just don’t have the talent but Lord, what I have is this life, and this is what I am going to offer You. Would You use it for Your glory?”
You know after 8 years, that good-looking young boy is now standing in front of you praising God for how He used him for His glory.
Now, you may be wondering, “How come there’s no call for those passed their “days of youth?” Well, there is… For the young once, spelled O-N-C-E, there is a call to SUPPORT.
II. A Call to Young Once to SUPPORT the Youth(I Tim. 4:12, II Tim.1:5, Rom. 12:8)
A famous verse about the youth is found in I Timothy 4:12. It says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” Notice the verse; I don’t like to say this, but some older ones, or should I say, young once tend to belittle those younger people because they are under-experienced and are stereo-typed as being premature. Most of the time, youth feel that they are being looked down upon and they definitely dislike this. Let’s look again on what Paul said to Timothy, “…don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young.” Other translation even used the word “despise.” Let us encourage the youth. Yes, maybe there are times that they are impulsive or rash. I myself have the tendency to stop them, but I learned that by just being with them and learning their ways, I could better guide and influence them. Support is an excellent thing to do. I recall II Timothy 1:5 “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you,” Paul says to Timothy. Timothy’s mom and lola taught him the Scriptures and the values he needs to be a good man. They supported and encouraged Timothy all the way. And when I say support, finances are included. But more than that, they need our moral support. Your just being there is a GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT for young people learning the basics of the ministry. Youth are encouraged when you utilize their God-given potentials (By the way, thanks for SIRKULO- 9 of 10 cast are young people). Thanks for those who supports the youth, for those who encourages their kids to join the youth activities. Thanks for not categorizing the youth of being the future of the church, for they are a vital part of the church now. They are serving the church now.
I pray that young once will support us develop a healthy youth ministry. A youth ministry that is family-friendly, where we can see the parents and youth working together. Serving the Lord joyfully together. Youth ministry is here not to hinder but to help you. I call for a mutual support.
Prayer: P. Em will ask the young people to stand so that they could be prayed for.
III. A Call to Everyone to SERVE God and others (I Pet. 4:10)
The call to SUBMIT is especially for the Young Ones, the call to SUPPORT is for Young Once but the third call, is a call to EVERYONE. A Call to Everyone to SERVE the God and others. I Peter 4:10 commands that, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” How good to know that each believer in Christ is gifted and everyone is gifted in order for everyone to use that gift to SERVE. I like what’s written in the biography of Jesus, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Only when our lives are used for service that it finds meaning and fulfillment.
We grow older day by day. Even though lot of beauty products are out in the market, Vicky Belo and Doctors Calayan offer face lifts to hide aging, the truth is that we cannot change our age. We do not have control of aging, but we have the control of HOW we are to age. How we choose to live our lives as we grow old. We can always choose to serve, to minister, to encourage and to give a helping hand. Would you be in God’s service?
To the young ones, it is never too early to serve the Lord. To the young once, it is never too late to serve God. It’s just a matter of committing our lives into the service of our Master Jesus Christ. It begins with willingness and availability for His service. Being in the service of God is the most satisfying, the most rewarding and the most fulfilling work a man or a woman can have.
Conclusion
I want to end with a candle illustration. I have here with me Junior and Senior candle. Who is Senior and who is Junior?
As I said earlier, life is short. We do not know when our life would end. I don’t know how long or short your candle is. Or is it burning bright or not?
But one thing I know, serving the Lord is neither too early nor too late. In the ministry, age doesn’t matter.
To Bring:
1. 2 candles
2. Lighter
I can provide you with a FREE Power Point presentation. just email me at yarp83yahoo.com
by C. James R. Betia
