Being Fruitful in Old Age
Growing older is not a burden; it is a privilege. People that talk negatively about growing old, and do everything to deny their age, lack maturity. The younger generations need the older folks to teach them, not join them. Old age should be a time when one has mastered responsibility and wisdom through godliness. Old age should be the time in life when one is promoted to the place of being an example of faithfulness. When a life is lived for God and His Word, old age will become something to be envied not avoided.
Psalm 92:13-14 says, “Those that be planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They SHALL BEAR FRUIT IN OLD AGE; they shall BE FRESH AND FLOURISHING.” I enjoy the stark contrast between God’s perception and the world’s perception of old age. The world defines old age as a time of agony and worthlessness; a time when you are forgotten and a time when you are a burden to those younger than you. But God sees old age as an opportunity to bear fruit! He says it is a time to flourish and to be fresh!
Think about what it means to be fruitful. Fruit on a tree announces the kind of tree you are dealing with. You could say that the fruit of a tree advertises for the tree. In the same way being fruitful in old age advertises for God. God enjoys showing His strength in something the world deems weak and feeble. Did you notice that the verses said that the old person can be fresh and flourishing? That means in God’s eyes that strength is not based on age; it’s based on Him and His sustaining power. For example, I am not strong and healthy because of my age; I say that I am strong because the Lord is the strength of my life. (Ps 27:1, Phil 4:13) God doesn’t want us to regard strength as a measure of age, whether we are young or old. He wants us to gauge strength as a measure of Him. We need to change our thinking and faith accordingly. If God wants to do something marvelous with my life in old age then I am going to believe that, speak that, and allow that!
This all sounds real good but there was a condition for that verse. Did you see what the condition was? That promise was for those who are PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. The world is dreading old age but for those of us who live to be a support to the House of God, old age is something to anticipate with joy. My older years are going to be my best years. With every day that I remain faithful to God’s House my future gets better and better. If you are already older and have not been planted in God’s House then I want to encourage you that it is not too late. Become the support to God’s House you never have been and watch God catch you up in a hurry! Serving God and His House with zeal has always been the solution to old age.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
