Only A Number
In today’s society, those who are young are often told to remain quiet and listen to their elders. The belief is that those who are older have more life experience and therefore more knowledge to give. While this is oftentimes true, this belief does not hold true when it comes to those in the Christian faith.
Today, I ask you to consider a young man who is often overlooked. Have you heard of Elihu? Can you place him in the scriptures? This young man is among Job’s three friends who sought to offer Job “counsel and wisdom” in his time of need. Throughout the book of Job, Elihu sat quietly as the older men went back and forth seeking to understand why Job was going through these different trials. However, eventually Elihu simply could hold back no more.
“Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned. 6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, “I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think. 7 I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom. 8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. 9 The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.”
Job 32:1-9
Over the next six chapters in the book of Job, Elihu rebukes Job’s three friends of their “counsel” which was really nothing more than an opportunity to complain against Job; as well as remind Job that God is the Almighty and a God of justice. Elihu reminds the older men that God is perfect in knowledge and we do not understand His ways. We can know that Elihu spoke correctly in all that he reprimanded and reminded the older men of because at the end of the book of Job, Elihu is the only one who is not reprimanded by God.
So what is it that the born-again believer can take away from Elihu? It is quite simple, age and spiritual maturity is only a number. If you are a young in age believer do not be afraid to speak and correct older in age believers. If you are a spiritually young believer do not be afraid to speak and correct those who have been in the faith longer than you have. Increased years, either in physical or spiritual, does not mean that the individual has all the answers. Know your scriptures and point out if someone is in error, do not be afraid if you don’t know the words; the scriptures make it clear that when God needs us to speak, He will provide what to say. “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:12.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex