I Will Declare Your Strength to this Generation!
Titus 2:1-8
“But
as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
2
that the older men be sober, reverent,
temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
3
the older women likewise, that they be
reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of
good things—
4
that they
admonish the young women
to love their husbands, to love their children,
5
to be
discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the
word of God may not be blasphemed.
6
Likewise,
exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7
in all things showing yourself
to be
a pattern of good works; in doctrine
showing
integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
8
sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be
ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
I have often been confused by the thoughtless concern that one cannot
apparently grow spiritually in a congregation that is full of old folks! I
have heard a great deal recently about the young not being engaged because
the congregations are full of old folks???
Should the Body of Christ mirror man’s
mind and the dismissal of the elderly in our general society; or should
the
Body of Christ
be set apart from this?
Philippians 2:15
should be considered as the
answer!
Honest examination of these claims are
something that is often overlooked. Are the young among us disengaged by the
age of the members of the
Body of Christ,
or
by lack of understanding,
un-educated mindsets of entertainment,
and by disconnected parents who
themselves have not sought the wisdom of God?
If left to the youth and the whims of their emotional desires, what would
happen to truth and reverence in their wake?
Did Paul know the answer to this question?
Absolutely! This is why he placed a great burden of responsibility on the
older members of a
sound Body of Christ;
to teach, train, and charge the young to do their duty!
King David knew that he had to trust in God, and God alone, as the true rock
of salvation. To this end, he declared:
Psalm 71:17-18
“O
God, You have taught me from my
youth;
And to this
day
I declare Your wondrous works.
18
Now also when
I am
old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your
strength to this
generation,
Your power to everyone
who
is to come.”
Two thoughts come to mind in light of this opening:
1.
To the elderly,
who may think that there is nothing for you to do, no real place for you in
the service of the Lord. I challenge you to take a keen interest in the life
and hearts of your youthful brethren (as commanded by Christ Jesus through
Paul). Do not wait to be asked, invite them to spend time; share your
knowledge of life and service to the Lord. Demonstrate God’s strength to
this generation!
2.
To the youth,
do not see the elderly as anything except
life
and
spiritual libraries.
Learn from them how to control emotions, choices, and reason. Learn from
them to build your own life on foundations that will not lead to shame! Most
importantly, learn from them how to place God first, and truly live to this
goal!