Did you know that when Paul McCartney was a boy, he tried out for the church choir? He was turned down because the director didn’t think much of his voice. Did you know that John Lennon’s aunt Mimi told him he’d “never make a living by” playing his guitar? When Lennon made his first million, he gave her a silver plaque with her words inscribed on it. Two boys that changed our culture yet the adults in their life failed to see their potential.
We see this in the Bible too. When Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the next King of Israel, Jesse paraded his seven strong sons before him, but God rejected them. Then Jesse said, “There is still the youngest, he’s tending the sheep.” David become the next king because God looks at the heart of a person rather than their physical appearance or place in society. The apostle Paul tells Timothy to not let anyone look down on his youth. Why? Because someone was doing just that to him. This discounting and discouraging of the younger generations is nothing new—but is this what God desires?
How we deal with this issue as the Church is critical. In 1st John 2:12-14 the apostle paints a word picture of the inter-generational make-up of the Church: children, fathers, young men. Each older generation is responsible to teach, encourage and guide the younger. The younger likewise is to respect and help the older. But as the older generation we must take care that we do not stifle our youth. Instead we must nurture them to become leaders—and be ready to follow their lead.
Think about it, how many young people in your family, church, or community are the leaders of tomorrow? Are they future preachers, artists, politicians, teachers, or social workers who, with God’s help might be used to shape your community and make disciples for Christ? Let’s not hesitate to encourage and strengthen them. Let’s look for ways to help them and invest in their lives. They are Generation Next and are vital to the present as well as the future of fulfilling our commission to make disciples of Christ who know, love, serve and share God.
Your Brother,
Roger Woods
