Title
The Presumption of Youth
Scripture
Bear with me a little, and I will show you that there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
(Job 36:2)
Devotional
Youthful arrogance is often hidden under the guise of humility. Youthful Elihu had no business reproving Job. Job had most likely forgotten more about righteousness and godliness than Elihu had yet obtained. It is the wise youth who refrains from speaking his mind to the wisdom of the aged. Youth comes with much more zeal than knowledge and much more passion than wisdom. We can never judge another rightly, because there is always at least one thing lacking in our understanding. With the youthful there are many things lacking in their understanding. They just do not know all that there is to know and they do not know that they do not know. Grasping this is the road to maturity. It is good for the youthful mind to inquire. It is foolish for it to make accusations, let alone presume to speak on God’s behalf. Elihu did well when he stood by and listened. He was presumptuous when he challenged Job.