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Danville Enlightener VOL. VIII, No. 15
Growing Old With ContentmentI must admit it, turning sixty was tough. I didn’t think it would be but it was. I reached previous milestones with relative ease; thirty, forty, and even fifty, but sixty was a stunner. All people, if they continue to live will have to adjust to growing old. The apostle Paul did. As “Paul the aged” (Philemon 9) he could write: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil 4:11). As we come to grips with the image in the mirror and the toll the years have taken upon our once vibrant bodies, how can we learn contentment? It certainly is not by following the examples of the “Stars” who have face lifts every four or five years. They might stretch out the wrinkles but they cannot stop the internal clock from aging. In order to accept the inevitable advancing age we are going to learn to just “let go,” which is something many people cannot do.
We spend a lifetime accumulating things. Without even realizing it we clutter up our lives with belongings. Often our homes begin to take on a chaotic appearance because we feel the need to display knick-knacks, pictures and personal effects we have gathered over the years. We fill our attics, garages, sheds, basements and even rent additional storage in an effort to hang on to the stuff we have acquired. This, despite the warnings of Christ who said: “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,” (Matt 13:22) causing us to become unfruitful. Not only will it help us spiritually but if we can free our lives of things we can and will be happier.
Regardless of
all you
accrue you
will one
day die and leave everything behind (Lk
In the first book in the Bible we learn that God intended for parents to let go of their offspring. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh,” (Gen 2:24). When parents of adult children learn this, they begin to accept aging. One of the first things a child says to his mother is “I can do it myself.” Toddlers wiggle free when held so they can run and play. First graders wave bye as they board the school bus. Parents must let a son or daughter go out on that first (with many to follow) date. All these are God’s way of preparing parents to “let go.” Some parents spend their twilight years in depression because their children have married and are happy in their own lives. These parents try to make decisions for their adult children; they treat their grandchildren as though they are their own children. In truth they have refused to cut the “apron-strings” and they find themselves in a constant state of melancholy.
Often we become insulted and angry when someone assumes us to be older than what we are. But we then become flattered when something assumes us to be younger than we are. Why? It’s simple; we are fascinated with being young. We spend a small fortune on anti-aging creams and potions. We color our hair, hide our baldness and fight aging every step of the way. Even after giving it our best shot, we look in the mirror and see the age in our eyes and the sag in our skin. This is because aging is a reality; it is a fact of living we cannot escape. The wise man gives a vivid description of this inevitability in Eccl 12:1-5. Take a moment and read these verses. He is describing everyone who reaches advance years, and no amount of creams, medicines or beauty aids will change it. Let’s not be ashamed of advancing age; as Robert Browning wrote: “Grow old along with me – the best is yet to be.”
In high school we all thought we could and would change the world. We just knew we would leave our imprint upon history. But as we grow older the truth begins to set in and we see things not as we dreamed but as they are. I know now I’ll never be another David Lipscomb, I am just a simple gospel preacher who labors in obscurity. Not only
Even the Son of God said: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” (Mk 10:45). Let’s develop the heart of a servant instead of lamenting what we didn’t do or couldn’t do. The doors we hoped would open didn’t, but we need to go through the ones that did open. God is allowing us to serve in the best way we are suited so let’s be content with that. Albert Schweitzer said: “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know – the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Only those who are able to let go will be content as they age. Let’s nestle in contentment that we were able to be a part of something so great while being so small.
-- jrb
"As I See It" Wow! What a week we had here at Danville. We closed out our spring gospel meeting Friday night (April 27). Without question the week was a success because the Word of God was preached in truth and sincerity by brother L.A. Stauffer. There are many ways the meeting could be measured to say that it was not profitable. Some of these might include (1) The lack of visible results (baptisms). (2) Crowds could have been larger so that we needed to put out folding chairs. (3) One hundred percent attendance from our membership. (4) More support from "sister congregations." Let me address these briefly. (1) God is the sole giver of increase (1 Cor 3:6). Brother Stauffer preached the gospel, which is the power of God to save (Rom 1:16). We did what we could to reach the lost and those who wanted to be saved were, and those who did not wish to be saved weren't. It is fraudulent to claim to believe that God gives the increase but then complain that meetings do no good because there was no increase. God tells us to preach and trust him; we cannot guarantee people will respond. (2) It is unrealistic to believe that just putting an advertisement on our sign will insure that people will attend. It is not like the claim "Build it and they will come." We have the responsibility to go into the streets and invite (Lk 14:23). We had visitors because some did invite friends and relatives. Again we cannot guarantee those invited will come. I know I personally invited many (more than 10 or 15); others did the same. Could we have done better? Perhaps! Did you invite anyone to attend? (3) It would rain spiritual blessings to have all members attend every service. Some were ill, shut-in, working or otherwise were unable to attend this meeting. This is regrettable but certainly not condemnable. Admittedly there were some who chose not to be here; to purposely choose not to assemble is willful sin (Heb 10:25-26). The attendance at this meeting was markedly better than the last gospel meeting held here. For this the membership is to be commended. However, those who did not attend but could have should be ashamed. (4) In all the years I have been a Christian I have never seen such animosity exist between those who claim to serve the Prince of Peace. This resentment better be repented of before one closes his eyes in death. We sang praises, we prayed together, we studied from the Word of God and we spent hours encouraging those who came and we worshiped the Living God. AS I SEE IT, we experienced a successful week in the Word. |