Promise of a long life

Exodus 20:12 (NIV) and Ephesians 6:1 (NIV)

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”.  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.  Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land”.

The fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments, as Ephesians 6:1 says, is the first commandment with a promise.  While the main focus of this commandment is for children to honor their father and mother, I wish to focus on the promise of a long life. 

In the United States in 1900, 4% of the population was 65 years old or older.  In 2000, that percentage had increased to about 12%.  It is estimated that by 2020, 17% of the American population will be 65 and older.  So indeed our population is aging.  Yet, no one likes to get old.  Jonathan Swift said that “every man desires to live long, but no man would be old.”  Christians may not fear death, but most fear getting old since getting old means potential health problems, financial pressures, physical limitations, loneliness, and other problems.

The Bible teaches that growing old is a blessing. For example Deuteronomy 5:33 teaches that if you live an obedient life, the Lord will prosper you and prolong your days on earth.  King David died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor (I Chronicles 29:26,28).  Growing old is part of God’s purpose for your life.  I admit that looking at aging from that viewpoint seems to lessen my personal depression about the aging process.  Proverbs 16:31 says that “gray hair is a glorious crown, it is found in the way of righteousness”.  

Perhaps the number one blessing/attribute promised by the Bible for getting older is gaining the attribute of wisdom. Wisdom is a characteristic of a person who puts the Lord first in his/her life and allows the Spirit of God to fill his/her life.  Don’t be like the person Ben Franklin referred to when he said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late”. Wisdom allows a person to live a long/full life (Proverbs 3:16, 9:10-11).  Wisdom allows the older person to be a teacher, coach, mentor, and counselor to a younger person (Deut 32:7, Titus 2:3-5). 

As you grow older, your goal as a Christian should be to serve as a good example to younger Christians.  Titus 2:2-3 says that older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love and endurance.  Older women are to be reverent in behavior, not gossipy, not addicted to much wine and teachers of what is good.

God will never leave your nor forsake you no matter how old you get.  There’s a great promise for the elderly in Isaiah 46:3-4; the Message Bible says:  “I've been carrying you on my back from the day you were born.  And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.  I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.  I've done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.”   We know also that God will be with you when you are suffering both physically and emotionally.  There needs to be a continual grounding of your faith to be there for you to carry you through your final days on earth. 

I believe the teaching that of the three sources of temptation---the flesh, the world, and the devil---the devil himself is most active with the elderly, telling them that they are no good any more to anyone, worthless, and don’t deserve to be content with their final stages of life.  You must be prepared for these attacks and fight them (“resist the devil and he will flee from you---James 4:7).  You are best prepared, again, by daily grounding your faith in the Lord through Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship.

For younger people reading this teaching, you need to remember that the Bible instructs you to take care of the elderly and, especially show respect (Lev 19:32, I Tim 5:1-2).  Indeed, the fourth commandment and the first with a promise affirm the importance of respecting your elders, your parents foremost among these.  Someday you will be old and will deserve others’ respect as the elderly deserve your respect now.

“Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest in life and living wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair – these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.”---Douglas MacArthur 

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." Unknown   

MJA Note:  I also wrote this in honor of my mother's 89th birthday tomorrow (July 1).