Today’s Scripture Reading [August 1, 2009]
[All Scripture references are from King James Version]
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. [Joshua 14:10-11]
As we grow older, we can feel very insecure. For people who are in their late 40s or early 50s and still working because they are the sole-bread winners in their families, this insecurity can cause them a lot of anxieties. This is even more apparent during the time of economic uncertainty. They feel (and rightly so) that they are the target to be made redundant by their companies. From purely economic standpoint, it sounds valid.
However, in God’s economy and kingdom, you can never be too old to serve Him. Joshua still felt he had the strength to carry out God’s instruction for war in spite of the fact that he was 85 years’ old.
In fact, older men and women can prove to be more resourceful when it comes to the Lord’s ministry. They are more temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. They can be easily accepted as mentors for younger men and women by properly modeling worship and service to our Omnipotent GOD. They can set positive examples by their behavior at home, church and community.
It’s never too old for God. Bible has many God-loving people who, although, old in age, but were given promises that later fully glorified Him. Good examples are: Noel was very old when he built the ark; Abraham and Sarah were given a child when they were very old; Boaz who was old when he married Ruth and they too were blessed with a child, Obed who was the grandfather of King David.
Just like you can never give too much to Jesus because He is everything, you can never be too old to serve Him. God wants us to serve Him – young and old, educated and uneducated, men and women, fishermen and businessmen, rich and poor – God wants you to do the things He has appointed for your life.