Do Not Judge by the Outward Appearance - JUDGING BY AGE

The Scriptures frequently instruct us to show proper respect for older ones.  Leviticus 9:32 says:  "Before gray hair you should rise up, and you must show honor to an older man, and you must be in fear of your God."  Proverbs 6:31 similarly instructs us that "gray hair is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness."  Then, too, Paul admonished Timothy not to criticize and older man severely but to view such an older man as a father.  (1 Timothy 5:1, 2) Although Timothy had a measure of authority over such older brothers, he was to treat them with compassion and respect. 

However, how long w0uld we take that principle?  For example, should we feel obligated to defer to someone older if he is willfully sinning or is advocating something displeasing to Jehovah?  Jehovah will not judge by the outward appearance and will not excuse a willful sinner because he is older. Note the principle found at Isaiah 6:20: "The sinner will be cursed, even though he is a hundred years of age."  A similar principle is demonstrated at Ezekiel (9:5-7)  Thus, our main concern must always be to show respect for the Ancient of Days, Jehovah God.  (Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14)  If we do so, we will not be afraid to correct a person needing counsel, regardless of his age. -Galatians 6:1.

What about younger brothers in the congregation?  How do you view them?  To the younger man Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote:  "Never let anyone look down on your youth.  Instead, become an example to the faithful ones in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness."  (1 Timothy 4:12)  At the time that Paul wrote these words, Timothy must have been in his early 30's.  Yet, Paul had assigned him to care for weighty responsibilities.  Regardless of the underlying reason for this counsel, the point is clear.   We must not judge younger brothers simply based on their age.  We do well to remember that even our Lord Jesus carried out his early ministry while he was in his early 30's. 

We may be part of a culture that tends to look down on younger men. If so, the congregation may  hesitate to commend qualified  young brothers to serve as ministerial servants or elders. All elders do well to remember that the Scriptures do not give a minimum age for a man to be recommended as a ministerial servant or an elder. (1 Timothy 3:1-10, 12, 13; Titus 1:5-9)  If any elder establishes a rule based on culture, he is not acting according to the Scriptures.  Younger men must be evaluated, not by personal or cultural viewpoints, but by the measuring stick of God's Word. -2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 

Consider how much unscriptural cultural views can hold back qualified brothers.  In one country, a well-qualified ministerial servant was entrusted with weighty responsibilities.  Although the elders in his congregation agreed that a young brother met the Scriptural qualifications of an elder to a reasonable degree, he was recommended for appointment. A few older elders insisted that the brother looked to young to be viewed as an elder.  Sadly, the brother was held back from appointment simply because of the way he looked. Although this is only one experience, reports indicate that this way of thinking affects many in various parts of the world.  How important that we rely on the Scriptures rather than on our own cultural or personal viewpoints! That is the only way to obey Jesus and stop judging by the outward appearance.

Next time: Do Not Judge by the Outward Appearance - JUDGE WITH RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

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