“Younger” People

If you had an eight-year-old child, would you want him running the federal government? Well, that is exactly what happened in II Chronicles 34! Josiah was eight years old when he was made king, and the Bible says that “in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. . . .”Sometimes we think that because we wouldn’t want a young king, God would not want a young servant. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The truth is, you can do the most for God when you are younger. In the first place, young people have longer life. Dr. Paul Levin once said about a service, “We had two and one half saved tonight: two kids and one adult.” The kids still had their whole lives ahead of them.

In the second place, young people have clearer minds. The great thing about kids is that they don’t know anything! They have more room in their heads and hearts for new things than someone who is “ancient” at forty years old. We had a junior camper in the summer who knew both Chinese and English. That is a tough proposition for a Tennessean like me, yet this camper was only eight years old!

In the third place, young people often have more of a humble spirit. Of Josiah, the Lord said, “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God. . . .” If you see an adult with a humble heart, chances are that it started when he was young.

You may be thinking, “This is all fine and good, Brother Wil. But I’m not young!” Oh, yes you are! You are younger today than you will be tomorrow. You are younger now than you ever will be again. That means you have more life today, more room in your mind today, and a more humble spirit today than you will have tomorrow. You can do the most for God when you are younger-and that means today!

You’ll never be as young as you are right now. Today is the very best time to serve the Lord. You may not want a child as your king, but I can assure you that God is interested in “young” people who will serve Him.