Older and Wiser     - by Greg Gwin

 Did you hear about the fella out in California that had his 122nd birthday? In an interview he said that he could tell his age was really beginning to catch up with him - said he knew the reason why, too. He blames his failing health on the fact that he hasn’t worked a good hard day’s work since he was 116 years old!

There are lots of lessons to be learned from this remarkable voice of experience. For one thing, certain elements in our society need the reminder that man has a basic need for work. It is part of God’s design, as seen way back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). God’s word often condemns the lazy and idle man (Prov. 6:10; 20:4). In fact, we are told in plainest terms that the man who will not work, should not be allowed to eat (2 Thess. 3 10). Many current problems would be solved if these simple principles were observed.

Some of our “senior citizens” need to take note of this gentleman’s observations as well. Many older folks are inclined to sit at home, constantly reminding themselves and others about all of their aches and pains. Rather than keeping active, they excuse themselves on the basis of their age. They don’t seem to realize that this will only make them “older” faster. If you’re in this category, take time to read the story of Caleb, who demanded the right to keep fighting for the promised land, despite his old age (Joshua 14:6-14).

But maybe the best lesson from this old timer has an application to all of us who are Christians. The simple point is this: when we stop working, we start dying. Here my meaning is not physical, but spiritual. We can not allow ourselves to be inactive in the Lord’s work, or else we will immediately begin to lose our spiritual health. “Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15: 58). How about you - are you working?

- taken from the Lafayette Heights Daily Devotion,  9/7/10