I was reminded of the wonderful verse below this morning, as I read a portion of George Muller’s journal.
The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy,
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
At that time someone could be referred to as “young” until they were forty years old. Timothy had joined Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1), and the book of 1 Timothy was written fourteen years later. If, as many believe, Timothy was sixteen years old when Paul first worked with him, then he would have been at least thirty at this point, yet older men may have looked down on his comparative “youth.”
Still, I believe the principle can be applied to even young children, who can exemplify and inspire with an example of faith to adults, as evidenced by Jesus’ words in Matthew 18,
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:1-4)
This portion of George Muller’s journal below also demonstrates a child’s ability to grasp the need for faithful stewardship and an eternal perspective.
“This morning we received a parcel with clothes and some money for the Orphans, from a sister at a distance. Among the donations in money was a little legacy, amounting to 6s. 6 1/2d. from a dear boy, the nephew of the sister who sent the things, who died in the faith. This dear child had had given to him, in his last illness, some new shillings, sixpences, and other smaller silver coins, amounting to the above-mentioned little sum. Shortly before he fell asleep, he requested that this his little treasure might be sent to the Orphans. This precious little legacy is the first we have had.”
Legacy.
The Puritan Richard Baxter wrote,
“It will be an unspeakable comfort to look back on a life well spent. And to be able to say, ‘My time was not cast away…It was spent on doing good to men’s souls and bodies.’”
Possessions.
Far too often, we, as adults, struggle with our possessions possessing us, as opposed to viewing ourselves rightly as stewards of God’s resources on loan to us.
Opportunity.
As South African pastor Andrew Murray wrote,
“What a wonderful religion Christianity is. It takes money, the very embodiment of the power of sense of this world, with its self-interest, its covetousness, and its pride, and it changes it into an instrument for God’s service and glory.”
Legacy. Possessions. Opportunity.
Heavenly Father, today we pray that you provide to our ministry, as well as all faithful, Christ-honoring ministries across the globe, individuals, organizations and institutions, who like this young child, possess a biblical view of legacy, possessions and opportunity, and, accordingly, are moved, through financial support, to serve as an instrument for Your service and glory. Amen.
