Never Too Young — TDW Kids

Young Helpers in God's Story

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Jesus welcomed children and said, “for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). All through the Bible, God used children and young people in His plans. Here are two of them.

A prayer answered. Hannah prayed for a son, and God gave her Samuel. When the boy was still young, she brought him to God's house at Shiloh. There he would serve the Lord with Eli the priest (1 Samuel 1:24-28).

Serving as a boy. The Bible says the boy Samuel served the Lord, wearing a linen holy vest like the priests wore (1 Samuel 2:18). Every year his mother made him a new little robe and brought it to him (1 Samuel 2:19).

Growing up well. Samuel kept growing, and both the Lord and the people were pleased with him (1 Samuel 2:26). Even as a child, he served God faithfully.

God was with him. As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him. God let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19). That means everything Samuel spoke for God came true.

Known by everyone. All Israel, from one end of the land to the other, knew that God had made Samuel His prophet (1 Samuel 3:20). The boy who served at God's house became the man who spoke God's words to the whole nation.

A girl far from home. Soldiers from Syria once carried off a young Israelite girl. She became a servant to the wife of Naaman, a great army leader who had leprosy, a terrible skin disease (2 Kings 5:1-2).

She spoke up. The girl told her mistress that she wished Naaman would go to God's prophet in Samaria, because the prophet would heal him (2 Kings 5:3).

Healed. Naaman went to Israel. He obeyed God's word through the prophet Elisha, and his skin became like the skin of a little child (2 Kings 5:14). Then he said that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15).

Kind to her master. She was far from her family, but she cared about the man she served and told his wife where he could find God's help. Her few words led a powerful man to the true God.

Small but faithful. Samuel did small jobs at God's house. The servant girl spoke only a few words. God used both of them in big ways.

What we learn. Samuel and the servant girl were young, but God used them. You do not have to be grown up to serve God, to grow close to Him or to tell someone about Him.

What to do. This week, ask God to show you one way to serve Him: helping at home or at church, reading your Bible, or telling a friend about Jesus.

Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to children like the ones He held (Mark 10:14). Scripture shows the same truth again and again: God gives young people real parts in His work.

Given to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:24-28). Hannah had prayed for a son. When God answered, she kept her promise and brought the young boy to the tabernacle at Shiloh to serve the Lord for the rest of his life.

Na'ar. The Bible says Samuel served the Lord even as a child (1 Samuel 2:18). The Hebrew word is na'ar (say: NAH-ar), a boy or young man. It can mean a young child, as it does here, or a teenager.

A boy who served (1 Samuel 2:18). Samuel served the Lord as a child, wearing a linen ephod, a simple priest's garment. At the same time, Eli's own grown sons dishonored God at the same tabernacle. The boy was faithful where the priest's own sons were not.

Growing in favor (1 Samuel 2:26). Samuel kept growing, and he was pleasing to the Lord and to the people. Faithfulness in small things at a young age shaped the man he became.

None of his words fell (1 Samuel 3:19-20). As Samuel grew, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground: what Samuel spoke for God came true. All Israel knew that God had made him a prophet.

Naaman's servant girl (2 Kings 5:1-3). A young Israelite girl was taken captive by Syrian raiders and made a servant in the house of Naaman, the commander of Syria's army. She knew something that mattered more than all of Syria's power: there was a prophet of the true God in Israel.

Grace toward an enemy. She could have kept silent toward the family that held her. Instead she told her mistress where her master could find healing. Naaman was healed, and he confessed that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel (2 Kings 5:14-15).

What ties them together. Neither of them was powerful. Each was faithful in a small place and willing to serve or speak when the moment came. God did the great work; they simply did not hold back.

Application. Your age does not disqualify you from serving God. Be faithful in the small jobs He gives you now, and be ready to speak about Him when the moment comes.

Young and Faithful

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Some of God's faithful people began following Him while they were very young. Their stories show that young people can stand strong for God, even when it is hard.

Taken far away. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took young men from Judah's best families back to his land. He wanted them trained to serve in his palace (Daniel 1:3-4).

Four friends. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were most likely teenagers. The king's official gave them new Babylonian names (Daniel 1:6-7).

The king's food. The young men were to eat the rich food and drink the wine from the king's own table (Daniel 1:5). But Daniel knew this food would make him unclean before God (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel decided. The Bible says Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not make himself unclean with the king's food (Daniel 1:8). Purposed means he made up his mind ahead of time.

Polite and brave. Daniel did not shout or argue. He asked the chief official kindly for another way, and God gave Daniel favor with the official (Daniel 1:8-9).

A ten-day test. Then Daniel asked the steward over him for vegetables and water for ten days. At the end, the four friends looked healthier than all the other young men (Daniel 1:12-15).

God gave wisdom. God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in learning, and He gave Daniel understanding of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17).

A boy king. Before Daniel was taken to Babylon, Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old. The Bible says he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 22:1-2).

Seeking God young. When Josiah was about sixteen, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of David. A few years later he began to clear the idols out of the land (2 Chronicles 34:3).

God's Word found. Later, while workers were repairing the temple, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law. When Josiah heard God's Word read, he was deeply sorry for the people's sin, and he led the whole nation back to God (2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3).

Not to earn. Young or old, we all sin. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and He forgives everyone who trusts Him. We do not serve God to earn His love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Serving Him is a way of saying thank you.

What to do. Like Daniel, decide ahead of time to follow God. Like Josiah, seek Him while you are young. Ask Jesus to help you stand strong for Him this week.

Some of the most faithful people in Scripture started young. Their stories answer a question many young believers ask: Am I old enough to matter in God's work?

Exiles in Babylon (Daniel 1:3-7). Nebuchadnezzar took young men of Judah's royal family and nobles, young men who were healthy, good-looking and quick to learn, to be trained for three years in the language and learning of Babylon. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were among them, most likely in their teens. Even their names were changed.

Purposed in his heart (Daniel 1:8). Daniel resolved ahead of time that he would not defile himself with the king's delicacies or wine. The food most likely broke God's food laws or had been offered to idols. Daniel settled the matter in his heart before the pressure came.

Respectful courage (Daniel 1:8-14). Daniel asked the chief official for permission instead of making a scene, and God gave him favor with that official. The official was afraid of the king, so Daniel went to the steward placed over him and proposed a ten-day test of vegetables and water, trusting God with the result.

God's gifts (Daniel 1:15-17, 20). The four looked healthier than the rest, and God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; Daniel also had understanding in visions and dreams. When the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all his wise men.

Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-2; 2 Chronicles 34:1-3). Josiah was eight when he became king, after a father and grandfather who led Judah into idol worship. Even so, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of David.

A reformer at twenty. Four years later he began to tear down the idols and altars that filled the land. When the Book of the Law was found in the temple, he tore his clothes in sorrow and called the people back to God (2 Kings 22:11; 23:1-3).

Grace first. Every one of us, young or old, has sinned, and Jesus died and rose again to forgive all who trust Him. None of this faithfulness earns God's love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Faithful young people are responding to grace, not paying for it.

Application. Decide now, before the pressure comes, what you will and will not do as a follower of Jesus. Then, like Daniel, stand firm with kindness and respect, and like Josiah, seek God with your whole heart while you are young.

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