Does it really cost a million dollars?

When I was a kid I loved flying remote control airplanes.  I also enjoyed  building them. The model airplane club, in which I was a member,was showing off the members’ airplanes at the local mall one weekend.  In this club most members were over the age of 40.  I was about fourteen and there was one other young person in the group.  All in all, this was an older mans’ club. I think the reason that they took us in was that our fathers would be there with us and paid our yearly fee.

When I was at the mall that week-end, people would come up and ask me questions about my planes. I would tell them the cost, how long it took to make the airplane, where to purchase, and general things like that.  The old man next to me seemed bitter.  He would have kids come up and ask him how much the airplanes cost and he would say, “They cost a million dollars!”.  When he said this, the kids would walk away and not ask any more questions.  I asked, after hearing him say this to a couple of kids, “Why do you tell them that it cost a million dollars?”.  He replied, “What does it matter?  They will not do this anyway?”.

I will never forget him saying this.  I was a kid and he basically talked to me as if I was an adult. He was saying that kids could not afford this hobby so why even deal with them.  I don’t know if you can see how ironic this was, but it really shook my thoughts the moment he said it.  I realized at that moment that some adults treat kids like they are worthless.

Whenever I read this verse I always think of that story:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.  1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

When you are young do not let people look down on you!  God used David, Jesus, Salome, Mary of Nazareth, Joseph son of Jacob, Samuel, John the Apostle, Ishmael, Ruth, and Jairus’ Daughter to name a few young people in the Bible.

When you are older do not look down on younger people!  I have a chance to teach a group of 10^th grade boys each week and I have to tell you that I am amazed at how much they can do and the level in which they think about their actions and faith!

Think about where you are in life and how you treat others.  Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear!