“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” (Proverbs 16:31)
Around sixty percent of the COVID deaths have been in people over the age of 70. As that statistic has been discussed, the dialogue has been discouraging. Some have argued that we are disrupting lives and the economy for people who would have likely died soon anyways.
This should upset a follower of Jesus.
First, the most vulnerable are the most protected. They are never disposable. Second, all life is valuable because we are made in the image of God. We must protect both the unborn child AND the older saint.
Lastly, the wisdom for living is a treasure that is given to the aged.
Wisdom is the ability to navigate life according to God’s creation design. Wisdom is essential to human flourishing. Thus, wisdom is a treasure:
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” (Proverbs 3:13-16)
When a younger woman is overwhelmed with raising kids, running a household, being a wife, and possibly managing a business — she needs wisdom to navigate life.
Where should she get that? From an older woman (Titus 2:4). An older woman should mentor a younger woman. The Lord has stored up a treasure of wisdom in that older woman, and that treasure is not meant to be hoarded.
If we are dismissive of our older saints, we are throwing away a storehouse of treasures. The Lord has stored up a vast cache of treasure, and hidden that cache in the hearts and minds of the older saints.
Paul Tripp writes:
“The Bible looks at youth and aging in the exact opposite way from our culture. While the Bible esteems the vigor of the young, it views old age as a sign of blessing and repeatedly calls on us to honor the aged (Isa. 46:4, Lev. 19:32, Prov. 23:22, 1 Tim. 5:1). The tendency of modern Western culture to despise aging and to worship youthfulness is one subtle indicator of how far it has moved away from a biblical perspective on life. In Scripture old age is a sign of God’s covenantal faithfulness. It is also connected with functional wisdom. We, on the other hand, crave youth, dread getting old, and quickly put out to pasture all those who have lived long enough to have acquired some functional life-wisdom. This ageism is part of the oxygen of our culture. We all breathe it in daily, and it has affected the way each of us views who we are and where we are going.” (Tripp, Lost in the Middle, pg 83)
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