“Wisdom of the Aged”
Read Acts 14:23-28
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (vs. 23 NIV)
“Hopefully you don’t consider the older generation (as some do) to be irrelevant and out of touch.’ ‘Those new converts saw living examples of perseverance through suffering. Paul and Barnabas departed from each city under difficult circumstances.”(1)
“Paul and Barnabas wanted to leave the new believers with ongoing strength and encouragement, so they carefully appointed elders who were not only spiritually mature but also (if I may say so gently) – old.’ ‘In Titus 2:3-6 Paul also charged older women, younger women, and younger men to faithful service.” (2)
Beth points out the effectual service of older generation and the maturity both in physical terms as well as spiritual. Sometimes people get so excited and trying to reach out to the younger generation but have ignored the older generation. This generation that has persevered through the years and capable of imparting great wisdom and encouragement to others because of hardships, trials and persecutions and their dependency in trusting the Lord.
Spiritual maturity depends on your relationship with the Lord. Think how old many of biblical characters were in the bible before they walked in their calling. Some didn’t begin their ministry until they were 80 years old. David was anointed 3 times and about 17 years had gone by before He became king. I heard someone once say that when God is referring to a “generation”, He is referring to a move of His Spirit and it includes both the old and younger generation. God is no respecter of persons and does not discount the older for the younger generation or visa versa.
Basically no matter young or old, spiritual mature or not, God can and will use whomever He has called to fulfill His purpose. I hope I never think only of the younger generation at the expense of the older generation and that I too have an attitude of inclusion and see the value of God’s heart no matter how young or old someone is. There’s something about “honoring your father and mother’ in the physical as well as spiritual sense!
“We don’t have Paul and Barnabas, but we have hosts of older people who are more than happy to tell us about the faithfulness of God – if we’ll just stop, ask them, and listen.” (3)
Vicky
There’s just something about the heart and blessing of a Father/Mother that all generations are looking for!
(1-3) Paul, 90 Days in His Journey of Faith/Beth Moore/B & H Publishing
