Psalms 92:12-15
That God can and does use the elderly should be rather apparent as we have looked at the elderly God used, especially when we take a few moments to consider God’s use of older people in the Bible.But what about today? We'll now consider God’s use of older people in the church today as we continue this lesson.
There is always a need for “elders”…. Did God not design the local church to be overseen by elders? - Ac 14:23 “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”; Ti 1:5-9 “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Men who were older, capable of teaching and leading the flock? Men who were to serve as overseers and examples of God’s flock? - 1 Pe 5:1-4 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Yet many male members seem to retire from active service in the church about the same time they retire from secular work! Around age 65, which is rather young compared to the examples we saw! Just when they might be useful to the Lord, they are retiring! If unqualified to serve, why not spend a few years growing and developing the necessary qualifications (if possible), and then serve? Many young men who want to preach prepare themselves in just a couple of years, why can’t older men do the same?
There is always a need for older women. Who will do what Paul commanded in Ti 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” To be “teachers of good things”, especially to teach the younger women how to love their husbands, love their children, be good wives and homemakers. Sadly, many women stop teaching when they reach the age they are commanded to teach! Don’t feel qualified to teach? Then prepare yourself! Commit yourselves to learn God’s word, and in a short time you will be prepared!
There is always a need for service the elderly can provide. Some examples:
Hospitality and benevolence - many elderly are financially secure, able to do what many younger families cannot.
Edification and evangelism - with so much time on their hands, why not use it to study with others?
Even the most infirm can do things like send cards, make phone calls, spend time in prayer and fasting - Lk 2:37 “and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.”; 1 Ti 5:5 “She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,” -- I heard of one invalid who spent her time praying for the sick, for those involved in teaching others, etc. From our text we see what else the elderly can and should do:
“To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock...” - Psa 92:15
To proclaim God’s strength to the next generation - Psa 71:17-18 “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
To recount God’s mighty works to the next generation - Psa 78:1-8 “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
God can certainly use people of all ages who are willing to prepare themselves to be of service to Him and who are willing to present themselves in service to Him. We may retire from secular jobs, but not from our service to the Lord...! Certainly physical infirmities may limit what we can do, but only death can stop us from doing what we can! Is the problem really one of physical infirmities, or spiritual laziness...? We can’t stop the aging process, but we can be renewed inwardly daily! - 2 Co 4:16 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” Our problem may be related to our youth-oriented culture where the wisdom and experience of the elderly is not respected. Where our society is too quick to put the elderly “out to pasture”. Other cultures reflect the scriptural norm... Where the elderly are revered, their wisdom and experience appreciated. Where the elderly continue in roles of influence and leadership, even to death. I believe the righteous can and should “still bear fruit in old age”. I hope that this lesson will encourage the elderly to reexamine their usefulness to the Lord and His church. Let the attitude of “Paul, the aged” be your attitude as well:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” (Philippians 3:12-15)
