THE GRAY-HEADED
"The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." - Prov 20:29
To despise the old is to lack footprints and even footpaths, the young who refuses to see the relevance of the old will wander in the wilderness of life, it is not a crime to be old, in fact, it is a blessing we often pray for; but everyone suddenly think the old is meant for care and death. Whether literate or otherwise, the old amongst us aren't all useless.
The role of the elders in the scriptures will help the discerning to understand that, there are treasures in these fragile people, in fact, the scripture tells of some certain twenty-four elder who constantly bow to the Father in adoration. If you have elders around you, who have lived a good life - there you can tap into the fountain of experiences, either to avoid wrong paths or to follow through.
One of the things that surprises me about the youths, is a quick longing for new order, we do not want to believe that there is nothing new under the sun, we want to be quick to discard the ancient landmarks and find our own paths. We say they can't understand the modalities or trends of the new age - yet we fail to realise that it is our unavoidable end we stare at.
There are benefits of being young, but I also know that there are benefits of being old. Wisdom should ordinarily tell of elders and the youth should be wise enough to glean from it. The old people around us are custodians of history and pointers for our journey. In that old man resides authority to bless you, in that old fellow lies the wisdom to take you through, in that elder there is grace and backing.
One of the curses upon the Eli family was that there would not be old men in that family; it therefore means that once a family lacks the aged, it is a signal that all is not well. Sitting, squatting, that old not too fine person has produced a generation; to despise such is to be foolish.
This piece will draw you to more revelations.
WHEN WE DESPISE THE OLD
"And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside." - Gen 9:22
It is true that grandpa Noah was actually drunk that day and didn't know what he was doing, he became less honourable, but Ham's decision to publish it wasn't the best. It appeared to me that he called his other brothers to see how their father was making a fool of himself in his tent. Shem and Japheth disappointed Ham, they didn't use their camera phones to record the man's nakedness and pasted it on youtube, no - they turned the other way and covered their father from whose loins they came.
The drunk man woke up and cursed Canaan, Ham's first son... True nothing happened to Ham, but something happened to his seed, Ham inherited a curse for his generation. The fathers indeed ate sour grapes and the teeth of the children have been set on edge. Canaan didn't deserve the punishment from his father's foolishness, but the old man had an authority to curse his generation.
When we become unnecessarily brutal and unaccommodating to the frailties of the old, we attract curses rather than blessings. Yes, they are weak and not well coordinated and that's why they are old and you too must forgive their inadequacies, at least when the strength was there, they had a better sense of judgement and did right. In order not to attract unnecessary attachments to ourselves, let's be accommodating unto the old.
"Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers" - 1Tim 5:1
No matter your level of anointing as a young man, it does not substitute for respect, do not become excessive when dealing with the gray headed, even God honours them..they have representations in heaven. It is true that some old people can be a burden especially when they are sick, but that does not give the younger ones the right to rebuke.
Dear friend, the gray hair is the splendor of the old, don't make their lives more difficult than it is now, as some of the things they are dealing with are tough on its own. Sometimes even the lifestyle of the younger generation can be an addition to their weaknesses.
The gray haired had lived their lives, they have gone the lengths, even though they are a mess, you have a responsibility to them. Let us be sympathetic to the plight of the old people, let love be the motives of our dealings with them.
DON'T IGNORE THEIR WORDS
"But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before." - 1Kings 12:8
The advice of the old may sound like routine and predictable as always, but it has never turned a lie... I can always predict some of the things elders will say if you ask them for advice, but I have also realised that there may not be a substitute to those predictable and simple words they often have to offer most times. Moreover, the one whom the spirit of God dwells should be able to rightly discern a right advice from wrong.
Maybe king Rehoboam thought these elders were past their prime and may not understand something, but I do not find it so because, these were elders who stood before his father king Solomon - the wisest king, how can you ignore the words of such men? He didn't even consider it, he knew that was not what he wanted to hear, so he decided to ask his young friends who have the same perspectives as he has.
King Rohoboam lost the kingdom, the people refused to pay tax, and they showed him that democracy indeed belongs to the people - it wasn't really a coup, but Israel became divided because one young man ignored the words of the elders. There is also something of note I want to sound in your ears dear friend, don't seek advice you aren't ready to heed if it is the right one, as this was the case of Rehoboam. He sought advice but refused it.
"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things." 2Tim 2:7
Paul was the elder here and even with the obvious truth, Paul still asked Timothy to consider his words for understanding. The young in our days will hear but not consider for understanding, it is like an elder giving a proverb and the young just laughs it out, that is the best form of identifying one who lacks understanding.
Begin to consider those thongs your mother told you, begin to seek understanding of those things they continually ring in your ears, even though you never considered it then, it may not be too late to start considering them now, the advice from the elders may still hold today.
It was king Solomon, Rehoboam's father that said, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, begin to consider the weak voice of the old, it might be full of strength for the paths you want to tread.
COVET THEIR BLESSINGS
"And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die." - Gen 26:4
They didn't know any other prophet apart from their father, even Rebekah understood the importance of a father's blessings and she wanted Jacob to be blessed. We as the young must begin to do unto our elders things that would trigger them to bless us, it is wisdom to do so. There are certain people whom God agrees with, when they make pronouncements, and our parent are part of them.
I often feel sorry for those who are a source grief unto their parents, they don't know what they miss when they don't get the blessings of their parents. The desperation of the children of Isaac to get the blessings should tell us something significant about the role of the gray head. When we do well in public life or academic, they bless us the more - it is a capital investment that knows no recession.
And when Jacob was also about to die, he called his children together and cursed those that were to be cursed and also blessed those to be blessed, like it or not, the pronouncement of Jacob stayed that way.
"Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.' And he said, 'Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.'" - Gen 48:9
The old may have nothing else to offer than blessing and trust me, that too is relevant. We may be one of those who avoid the old because there is nothing interesting about them, but friend, there is something unique about the blessings they pronounce. It was right there that Jacob adopted the two sons of Joseph to be part of the tribe of Israel.
Joseph was the son of Jacob's old age, why will he not be blessed. Joseph was privilege to have a son at the very old age who didn't have to learn his old habits, if there was anything more Jacob wanted to do with Joseph, he didn't want to produce another 'Jacob' that was cunny. He wanted to pour his experience unto this child of old age.
Blessed are you when the gray headed speak well of and unto you. It is even better when such men have a relationship with God...it binds God to quickly honour their pronouncements. We must begin to give honour to our fathers of faith also, some of them were in the ministry and can no longer do what they use to do, but they can pray along with us. Those among them who have earned a good name, should be highly esteemed, their night has come when they can no longer work.
OLD AND FLOURISHING
"Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing." - Psalm 92:13-14
Daniel served four kings and one would wonder how old the man was, he was active and he was relevant, kings reigned and died yet this man was blessed with old age and uncommon wisdom. It is not every old person that should be discarded. In case you are old, you can be like Caleb who at eighty was still conquering cities.
I strongly believe that the old are our landmarks, so we do not step on landmines, it could be dangerous, I am convinced that the old still have their experience to tell us, though they may not always be correct, but if we can consider their words well, we won't fall into the same trap some of them did.
There was a certain Anna who held strong to the old rugged cross from her youth, she was praying and fasting, she was a widow, she had no earthly husband but God was all she held on to. This woman had the rear privilege to see baby Jesus and she thanked the Lord. Simeon too was a man who was old and wouldn't even die until he saw the Lord.
A WORD FOR THE OLD
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will girls you and carry you where you do not wish." - John 21:18
Dear old man, if you live right and instill discipline in your young children, they will not gird you to hell, they will not make you depressed or go to the grave in sorrow. If you make good use of your youth, when you are old - you will not be disposed by your children.
Eli's children were the ones who led Eli to a tragic death because he failed in his duty. Parents need to make the right decision as regards their lives now, lest they would not flourish. It is possible for a man to be alive yet the children may be planning the funeral of that man already and fighting over properties. This old man is not flourishing.
Moses was a man who walked with God and his strength was not abated. He was never a liability to anyone until he left. Your case can be so too.
CONCLUSION
Let us consider the elders or the aged and treat them with honour due, for no one can escape such destination. May you live to be old.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
To despise the old is to lack footprints and even footpaths, the young who refuses to see the relevance of the old will wander in the wilderness of life, it is not a crime to be old, in fact, it is a blessing we often pray for; but everyone suddenly think the old is meant for care and death. Whether literate or otherwise, the old amongst us aren't all useless.
The role of the elders in the scriptures will help the discerning to understand that, there are treasures in these fragile people, in fact, the scripture tells of some certain twenty-four elder who constantly bow to the Father in adoration. If you have elders around you, who have lived a good life - there you can tap into the fountain of experiences, either to avoid wrong paths or to follow through.
One of the things that surprises me about the youths, is a quick longing for new order, we do not want to believe that there is nothing new under the sun, we want to be quick to discard the ancient landmarks and find our own paths. We say they can't understand the modalities or trends of the new age - yet we fail to realise that it is our unavoidable end we stare at.
There are benefits of being young, but I also know that there are benefits of being old. Wisdom should ordinarily tell of elders and the youth should be wise enough to glean from it. The old people around us are custodians of history and pointers for our journey. In that old man resides authority to bless you, in that old fellow lies the wisdom to take you through, in that elder there is grace and backing.
One of the curses upon the Eli family was that there would not be old men in that family; it therefore means that once a family lacks the aged, it is a signal that all is not well. Sitting, squatting, that old not too fine person has produced a generation; to despise such is to be foolish.
This piece will draw you to more revelations.
WHEN WE DESPISE THE OLD
"And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside." - Gen 9:22
It is true that grandpa Noah was actually drunk that day and didn't know what he was doing, he became less honourable, but Ham's decision to publish it wasn't the best. It appeared to me that he called his other brothers to see how their father was making a fool of himself in his tent. Shem and Japheth disappointed Ham, they didn't use their camera phones to record the man's nakedness and pasted it on youtube, no - they turned the other way and covered their father from whose loins they came.
The drunk man woke up and cursed Canaan, Ham's first son... True nothing happened to Ham, but something happened to his seed, Ham inherited a curse for his generation. The fathers indeed ate sour grapes and the teeth of the children have been set on edge. Canaan didn't deserve the punishment from his father's foolishness, but the old man had an authority to curse his generation.
When we become unnecessarily brutal and unaccommodating to the frailties of the old, we attract curses rather than blessings. Yes, they are weak and not well coordinated and that's why they are old and you too must forgive their inadequacies, at least when the strength was there, they had a better sense of judgement and did right. In order not to attract unnecessary attachments to ourselves, let's be accommodating unto the old.
"Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers" - 1Tim 5:1
No matter your level of anointing as a young man, it does not substitute for respect, do not become excessive when dealing with the gray headed, even God honours them..they have representations in heaven. It is true that some old people can be a burden especially when they are sick, but that does not give the younger ones the right to rebuke.
Dear friend, the gray hair is the splendor of the old, don't make their lives more difficult than it is now, as some of the things they are dealing with are tough on its own. Sometimes even the lifestyle of the younger generation can be an addition to their weaknesses.
The gray haired had lived their lives, they have gone the lengths, even though they are a mess, you have a responsibility to them. Let us be sympathetic to the plight of the old people, let love be the motives of our dealings with them.
DON'T IGNORE THEIR WORDS
"But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before." - 1Kings 12:8
The advice of the old may sound like routine and predictable as always, but it has never turned a lie... I can always predict some of the things elders will say if you ask them for advice, but I have also realised that there may not be a substitute to those predictable and simple words they often have to offer most times. Moreover, the one whom the spirit of God dwells should be able to rightly discern a right advice from wrong.
Maybe king Rehoboam thought these elders were past their prime and may not understand something, but I do not find it so because, these were elders who stood before his father king Solomon - the wisest king, how can you ignore the words of such men? He didn't even consider it, he knew that was not what he wanted to hear, so he decided to ask his young friends who have the same perspectives as he has.
King Rohoboam lost the kingdom, the people refused to pay tax, and they showed him that democracy indeed belongs to the people - it wasn't really a coup, but Israel became divided because one young man ignored the words of the elders. There is also something of note I want to sound in your ears dear friend, don't seek advice you aren't ready to heed if it is the right one, as this was the case of Rehoboam. He sought advice but refused it.
"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things." 2Tim 2:7
Paul was the elder here and even with the obvious truth, Paul still asked Timothy to consider his words for understanding. The young in our days will hear but not consider for understanding, it is like an elder giving a proverb and the young just laughs it out, that is the best form of identifying one who lacks understanding.
Begin to consider those thongs your mother told you, begin to seek understanding of those things they continually ring in your ears, even though you never considered it then, it may not be too late to start considering them now, the advice from the elders may still hold today.
It was king Solomon, Rehoboam's father that said, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, begin to consider the weak voice of the old, it might be full of strength for the paths you want to tread.
COVET THEIR BLESSINGS
"And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die." - Gen 26:4
They didn't know any other prophet apart from their father, even Rebekah understood the importance of a father's blessings and she wanted Jacob to be blessed. We as the young must begin to do unto our elders things that would trigger them to bless us, it is wisdom to do so. There are certain people whom God agrees with, when they make pronouncements, and our parent are part of them.
I often feel sorry for those who are a source grief unto their parents, they don't know what they miss when they don't get the blessings of their parents. The desperation of the children of Isaac to get the blessings should tell us something significant about the role of the gray head. When we do well in public life or academic, they bless us the more - it is a capital investment that knows no recession.
And when Jacob was also about to die, he called his children together and cursed those that were to be cursed and also blessed those to be blessed, like it or not, the pronouncement of Jacob stayed that way.
"Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.' And he said, 'Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.'" - Gen 48:9
The old may have nothing else to offer than blessing and trust me, that too is relevant. We may be one of those who avoid the old because there is nothing interesting about them, but friend, there is something unique about the blessings they pronounce. It was right there that Jacob adopted the two sons of Joseph to be part of the tribe of Israel.
Joseph was the son of Jacob's old age, why will he not be blessed. Joseph was privilege to have a son at the very old age who didn't have to learn his old habits, if there was anything more Jacob wanted to do with Joseph, he didn't want to produce another 'Jacob' that was cunny. He wanted to pour his experience unto this child of old age.
Blessed are you when the gray headed speak well of and unto you. It is even better when such men have a relationship with God...it binds God to quickly honour their pronouncements. We must begin to give honour to our fathers of faith also, some of them were in the ministry and can no longer do what they use to do, but they can pray along with us. Those among them who have earned a good name, should be highly esteemed, their night has come when they can no longer work.
OLD AND FLOURISHING
"Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing." - Psalm 92:13-14
Daniel served four kings and one would wonder how old the man was, he was active and he was relevant, kings reigned and died yet this man was blessed with old age and uncommon wisdom. It is not every old person that should be discarded. In case you are old, you can be like Caleb who at eighty was still conquering cities.
I strongly believe that the old are our landmarks, so we do not step on landmines, it could be dangerous, I am convinced that the old still have their experience to tell us, though they may not always be correct, but if we can consider their words well, we won't fall into the same trap some of them did.
There was a certain Anna who held strong to the old rugged cross from her youth, she was praying and fasting, she was a widow, she had no earthly husband but God was all she held on to. This woman had the rear privilege to see baby Jesus and she thanked the Lord. Simeon too was a man who was old and wouldn't even die until he saw the Lord.
A WORD FOR THE OLD
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will girls you and carry you where you do not wish." - John 21:18
Dear old man, if you live right and instill discipline in your young children, they will not gird you to hell, they will not make you depressed or go to the grave in sorrow. If you make good use of your youth, when you are old - you will not be disposed by your children.
Eli's children were the ones who led Eli to a tragic death because he failed in his duty. Parents need to make the right decision as regards their lives now, lest they would not flourish. It is possible for a man to be alive yet the children may be planning the funeral of that man already and fighting over properties. This old man is not flourishing.
Moses was a man who walked with God and his strength was not abated. He was never a liability to anyone until he left. Your case can be so too.
CONCLUSION
Let us consider the elders or the aged and treat them with honour due, for no one can escape such destination. May you live to be old.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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