Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1Tim. 4:12
The Church is like family, but when it comes to leadership, the leader of the Church is not necessarily the oldest man in the house. Timothy, a much younger man, found himself leading people as old as his father. Timothy was understandably intimidated in a culture where older people are respected, and their opinions or suggestions are imperative. Paul had to encourage Timothy and give him some simple leadership principles to make his work easier. Leadership is influence, and there is no better way to influence people than to do what you want them to do. Timothy was to mind what he said and how he said it, live the lifestyle he wanted people to live, love people genuinely, which no one could resist, exercise trust in God, and be blameless in thoughts and deeds. Whether your calling is to be a leader or not, this is the life we are called to live.
