1 Peter 5:5-7

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Youth is a blessing, and healthy churches will have young people that are both serving and being served. There are certain weaknesses associated with youth that must be avoided and pruned away with intentionality.  Today’s youth are tomorrows elders and there are at least three areas that tend to be weaknesses in youth that should be strengthened so that our churches will have qualified elders.

SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY: Independence is something we strive to build into our children.  We want our children to mature and be able to take care of themselves and make wise decisions.  However, independence can also lead to insubordination.  We are generally not fond of being told what to do.  The paradoxical reality is that submission to authority is a vital part of independence.  People who rebel against authority lose their jobs, relationships, and eventually their freedom when they end up in prison.  Mature believers submit first to God’s authority, and they recognize that all authority like parents, professors, pastors, police, supervisors, and governmental authorities are all established by God.  Family relationships are to be marked by mutual submission.  Churches have pastors and elders to which the members are to submit.  Before anyone can be entrusted with authority they must learn to submit to authority.

PRACTICE HUMILITY: Hand in hand with submission is humility.  Effective and biblical leadership is always marked by humility.  Leaders are called to serve.  All believers at every stage of life must use their gifts for the purpose of God’s glory and not their own.  Pride is repulsive to other people and results in opposition from God.  The Christian walk is seemingly full of paradoxes.  The path to exaltation is humility.  When we think that we are sufficient in and of ourselves and try to live independently of God; we will experiment His discipline. Only when we recognize our own weaknesses, repent of our sin, and bow down before Him in humility will we experience His mercy and grace.  When we seek to promote our own glory instead of God’s, He will resist our prideful efforts.  Those who humbly submit to the authority of God and those He entrusts with authority, will eventually be entrusted with authority and be rewarded by God.

CAST OFF ANXIETY: We live in a fallen world, with fallen bodies, and surrounded by fallen people.  However, we also live in a world created and sustained by a sovereign God.  Bad things will happen in our lives that are completely out of our control.  We will do sinful things that will have consequences that we cannot foresee.  Other people will sin against in ways that we cannot predict.  In short, we are living in a world that is beyond our ability to control.  This provokes anxiety in our hearts and minds.  Especially in times of suffering and persecution, we can be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts that can keep us from functioning well.  Instead of striving to control uncontrollable circumstances or being overcome by worry, God invites us to cast all our cares on Him and trust in His ability to care and provide for us.  His gracious provision has been evident in our lives, so gratitude and trust are our best weapons to fight off fear and anxiety over present or future circumstances.

APPLICATION: Recognize that all authority is ultimately under God’s sovereign authority and submit to it as such as long as those authorities do not prohibit what God requires or require what God prohibits.  Live to promote God’s glory and not our own.  Consider others as more important than ourselves and serve one another with gladness.  Trust God to control our lives and the circumstances we will face moving forward. Give our worries and fears to Him and leave them with Him.