We Might Not Have a Lot of Young Folks,
But We Have a Lot of Experienced Minds!
Moses told Israel, “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:32) The wisdom of Solomon says, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31) Thus does the O.T. teach us the lessons of “aged experience” (Romans 15:4). Students of the O.T. know well the ruin that came upon Israel after Rehoboam listened to the youth of Israel instead of the wise old minds of the land (1 Kings 12). Both age and youth have their places; to succeed, both must know and perform their roles.
No one is born with maturity! While some may say, “They are wise beyond their years,” complimenting extraordinary prowess in certain areas, the fact remains that such maturity comes first by learning and second through encouragement to maintain their dedication to the learning and application of the subject. This results in experience! Paul said it this way, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5: 3 – 5)
Youthful minds are incredible, and in many aspects, they are much more skilled at learning new things than we older folks. If you need help with your computer or cell phone, “call a kid” is the common advice. We older folks just don’t adjust to change with ease. However, life and its innumerable challenges are not limited to technology! Maturity comes with age because of experience. Yes, several of us older folks graduated from the “School of Hard Knocks,” and if we can prevent youthful minds from attending that school, famed by its faults and wrongdoings, then we do them much good by sharing those experiences. The problem? Young ears need to hear and learn from us old folks who have those experiences!
A popular question asked of us, especially those of us within rural congregations of the Lord’s church, is, “Do you have any young people?” I always answer, “Yes, we have a few,” for it is the truth! But they want to know their age and the activities we offer them (usually meaning, “What entertainment do you offer them?”) Again, I answer honestly that what few young people we have are taught in age-appropriate Bible study and expected to learn as well while we worship God in spirit and truth, (John 4:24). Because these questioners aren’t receiving what the answers they seek, evidently, they don’t think we older folks can properly educate their youth with the needed information they all need to go to heaven!
How should we value the minds of the elderly! These are the successful ones among us. Do you realize we have a couple here who have been married for seventy-three years? Think what they could tell us all about marriage! We have several in our number with fifty or more years of marriage, who have children, grandchildren, and some with great-grandchildren. Think of the experiences they could share regarding raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
The wisdom of an elderly person was this: “No one should ever complain about growing old; too many are denied the privilege.” So many young people say, “When I am old enough …” Few have consulted with the minds of the mature. No, we’re not always “against your plans or desires.” But neither are we eagerly supportive of your desires, young people! We most emphatically want you to be happy in your life, successful in your life, and wise in your choices. Don’t you understand what King David said during his mature years, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25) Read that passage again and emphasize the word “righteous.” That’s the key! The older we get, the more we realize RIGHTEOUSNESS is what life is all about! It isn’t the material things we gain, or the trips we’ve taken, or the achievements of temporal endeavors, but the righteousness of our souls that makes the difference. We older folks simply want you younger folks to know this. So yes, we have lots of valuable things to offer young folks – mostly God and His word!