✝ Daily Encouragement (10/20/22) "The Wisdom of the Aged"
Published: Thu, 10/20/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Thursday, October 20, 2022
Our local friend Nick Nichols took this photo of
an old Chevy truck and pumpkins! The Chevrolet insignia is still in fine condition on the side of the hood. Chevrolet vehicles have been associated with the famous bow tie emblem since 1913, which makes it one of the longest-standing logos in the world.
"The Wisdom of the Aged"
Message summary: Spending time with the aged who have experienced so much of the stuff of life that we will all eventually face is such an important aspect to the maturing believer.
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12). "I have been young, and now am old" (Psalm 37:25). “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (Titus 2:2). Many years ago when I was much younger I taught a senior Sunday School class. At that time older age still seemed quite a ways off and I felt like a relatively young man teaching these seniors, although I was actually middle-aged. An elderly class member shared this perspective, "One of the blessings of being older is having a broadened perspective on the events of life". Indeed many (but certainly not all) of the elderly have a deep reservoir of "broadened perspective", which demonstrates an ancient observation made by Job. The question Job asked some 4,000 years ago surely demands an affirmative answer! “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12). Well, now we are in a class with those similar in age to us and to the class I taught many years ago! We are experiencing David's observation, "I have been young, and now am old" (Psalm 37:25). That's a good thing since growing old is a healthy consequence of staying alive!
Of course not all the aged are wise and many have lived their lives foolishly. Aging is not a guarantee that we will attain wisdom and maturity. It comes over time as we make wise choices, learn from our unwise decisions, and “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).
My life is enriched as I consider those who have endured the rough knocks of life and steadily matured in their Christian walk as year by year they grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. They offer timeless wisdom – similar to that which is seen in the lives of the Bible characters thousands of years ago and every bit as applicable to our lives today. Now it’s increasingly going to be my turn and I sure hope I have the same wise outlook to offer those who follow me, either by example or counsel.* What about you today? Are you building on the Rock, progressively attaining the true wisdom to pass along to those that who follow behind? Older readers, today I want you to know that Brooksyne and I, along with many others, greatly value the contributions of your generation to the cause of Christ and the perspective you now offer to those who follow. It’s natural for all of us to seek out those who are similar in age since we find ourselves going through many of the same experiences and interests related to our season of life. But if we fail to regularly interface with believers from all ages we miss the greatly needed perspective they bring to our lives. Spending time with the aged who have experienced so much of the stuff of life that we will eventually face is such an important aspect to the maturing believer. Let us just add that we appreciate those of you much younger than we are who regularly read the Daily Encouragement and interface with us. The fact is, we all need each other!
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
 Daily prayer: Father, we read of those in the Bible from generations long ago who lived upright and godly lives. They
were discerning and wise, devoted in their duties such as Anna and Simeon who served in the temple. So many serve as examples of those who walked in Your ways from their youth and remained faithful through their golden years. Some of their choices brought about multiple blessings and other choices brought forth great sacrifice, persecution, or even death. We also read of those who were proud and foolish, thinking only of themselves, such as Samson, Ananias and Sapphira or Demetrius the
Silversmith. They also serve as warnings to us. Since we will soon follow in the steps of our elderly friends help us to store up the wisdom, discipline, and overcoming spirit they convey as they deal with the inevitable physical pain, loss of loved ones, and lack of independence as a result of growing old. It’s in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.* Brooksyne's Note: Speaking of learning from those older than us, I am involved in a mentoring program in our church and recently met a young wife and mother of two small children who is looking for guidance from an older woman - that would be me. We had a delightful visit and I look forward to sharing from the Scriptures and personal application as I offer encouragement and counsel over the next year. The program is
based on Titus 2:3-5: "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored".
Gravitas. Are you familiar with that word? Do you recall when you first heard it? I do. It was during the 2000 political campaign as commentators used the word over and over as they opined whether certain candidates had gravitas. At that time I had to look the word up and it means "having dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner". Gravitas was one of the Roman virtues, along with pietas, dignitas and virtus. It
may be translated variously as “weight, seriousness and dignity, also having importance, and connotes a sense of depth of personality”.
A Biblical term to describe this sense of gravitas would be Titus 2:2. Titus describes how aged men should be, "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness". I focus on the word “dignified”. Other translations render this word, “grave” (KJV), “worthy of respect” (NIV), “serious” (Amplified). The Greek word translated dignified is semnous (σεμνούς) found only two times in the New Testament, both in regard to church leadership meaning worthy of respect, noble.
Today we need men and women with spiritual gravitas!
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Build My Life" Video Pat Barrett
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation I will put my trust in You alone And I will not be shaken Today we share some photos from local readers, including two Manheim friends.
 Nick Nichols took this closeup photo of a Lancaster County windmill.  If you were driving around the bend on this country lane what tree might catch your eye? Our friend Lamar Dourte took this photo.
 Lamar Dourte also took this photo. The lawn looks like a carpet of fallen autumn leaves.
 I'm a bit jealous! I was looking at Doris High's photo blog and see they were in the White Mountains of New Hampshire earlier this month at the elusive peak of fall foliage colors. We were a couple of weeks early when we went up in late September.
She and her husband Cerwin took the Cog Railway all the way to the top of Mount Washington. When we went up the Cog Railway several weeks ago it was closed just above the treeline due to extreme weather at the top.
Doris is a prolific photographer. You can view her photos here and she's got more coming!
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