Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 16:30-33
Prov 16:30-33
Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
1 Tim 5:1-2
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
We live in a culture where everyone wants to hold on to their youth. Being young is idolized by the mainstream of society. As one gets older, they are to be replaced with someone who is young. We see this in business where older people are encouraged to retire or are let go in various ways. While it is true that a person can outlive their effectiveness, they most often have wisdom and experience that can only come with age, making them invaluable to an organization.
God selected elders to be over his church. He had elders in Israel who were over the families, the communities and synagogues. Paul even gives reasons why God wanted it this way when he said that a young man might be overcome with pride by being appointed for this position. He implies age when he talks about family and children and the experience that comes from these responsibilities.
I worked for about thirty years in a company that was owned and run by people from Japan. Respect for age is engrained in them because of their culture. Older people are respected in every part of their lives, including business. It was shown in the way they talked to older people (as well as how they talked about them). It was also shown in listening to them and in making decisions.
But being old does not mean that one is wise or deserves any special respect. One must act respectable to earn the respect of others. Because of our culture, older people too often try to look young, act young (or even immature) to try to impress those around them with their youth. I understand that just because I am old, I don’t have to dress like an old man, but I also don’t need to dress like a teenager.
O Lord, give me wisdom, no matter how young or how old I am. remind me that age is relative and often is just a number. Help me conduct my life so that others will see Jesus in me and therefore respect me as your child. Thank you for all you have given to me and have put into my life. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the nation in which I live, with all of the freedoms and opportunities that I can enjoy. Help me use them to your glory. Thank you for my friends and fellow Christians who show me so much love. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
