GOLDEN YEARS

More people are living to advanced years than ever before. Some folks resent getting old, and others resent old people. In an age that worships the goddess of youth, we need divine guidance to develop proper attitudes toward our retirement years.
Moses did his greatest work between ages 80 and 120. John wrote Revelation when near 100 years old. Anna the prophetess was still serving God when 84 (Lk 2:36-38). Only those widows 60 and above could be enrolled by the church to serve the congregation (I Tim 5:9). Men must be old enough to be called elders before they can be considered for leadership of the church (Titus 1:5).
David spoke of saints that “shall still bring forth fruit in old age … to show that Jehovah is upright” (Psa 92:14-15). God expects all disciples to be “faithful unto death” (Rev 2:10). Older Christians have wisdom by their years of reading the Bible that younger folks have not yet gained. Older women are to “train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home” (Tit 2:3-5). Older Christians inspire younger men and women.
There is glory, beauty and dignity in advanced years. The aged Psalmist wrote: “Even when I am old and gray, O God, forsake me not until I have declared thy strength to the next generation.” (Psa 71:17-18).
Some virtues of later years are wisdom, experience, maturity, tenderness and understanding (Rom13:11;
2 Cor 4:16; Prov 15:13; 17:6).

Golden Years

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