KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 4:12 KJV “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.”

​

The key scripture instructs the young pastor to be an example to the brethren so that he would not be despised because he is young. This clearly reveals that most people have very wrong impressions about the young ones in ministry. This is one of the reasons the elderly Pharisee failed to receive the ministry of Jesus. Please, dear elderly one, do not fall for this error. God uses the old as well as the young. What matters is the condition of the heart as well as the election of the Lord. 1Sa 16:7 KJV” But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

​

Now, back to our discussion on the pastor being an example, the young pastor must make the following decisions . He must decide to endure certain conditions, that he would be a worthy example unto the brethren.2Co 6:4 KJV “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” Apostle Paul says he approves himself as a worthy minister not by eloquently but by showing much patience in all kinds  of challenging  situations. Well, I do not refer to sicknesses among these, because Jesus clearly dealt with sicknesses in His atoning work. I mean any form of adversity that you have to endure.

​

I once joined the youth of our church at a camp meeting. We  went to one of the secondary  schools in Accra. I decided to join them to sleep in the dormitory. I had my car and could have decided to go to a better place, yet I was with them in the big dormitory. Deep in the night, we all realised that the school was highly infested with bed bugs. Everyone  had their share of the bites from these night insects. I could have decided to leave  and go find a better place, yet I stayed with them in the  dormitory. The nights  weren’t pleasant, yet I did not leave . Although it was unpleasant, it was a great example to the brethren.

​

This does not go for only pastors,but anyone who seeks to make a serious impact in life must decide to do more than the rest of the people do. If reading, you must read more. If it is prayer, you must pray more. If giving, you must give your best. Your giving may not be more  than everyone else’s, but just do your best. Taking the lead in doing a lot of things clearly makes you an example.

​

THOUGHT: YOU WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE READY TO DO MORE THAN THE REST

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

1Co 15:10 KJV But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

​

Joh 13:14 KJV “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”