Faith and Old Age

A conceited young man once said, “Great men are not wise, neither do the aged understand judgment”1 Youth has great advantages; it has not had time to accumulate those weights and sins which so easily beset us. Youth is without the heavy handicap of prejudices, and ought therefore to be able to get a clearer judgment. John is very complimentary to young men. “I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” The Bible seems to favour the superiority of young men. They were chosen to do the greater part of the work of God. Our Lord was a young man, and his prototype Joseph was equally young.

The wise man said that where there is no vision the people perish. Old men have decided disadvantages; they have accumulated through the years prejudices and burdens, which dim the judgment. The Prophet Joel said that old men should dream dreams and the young men see visions. Dreams take hold of the mind when it is inactive, but visions are the product of an active mind. If a community is to survive, there must be progress and enterprise. If the welfare of a community is directed by old men, there is generally a tendency to stagnation. Old men think in the past, while young men look to the future.

To continue reading this Bible article, click here.

Author: W. H. Hill

Keywords: faith, old age, youth, young, elderly, old men, young men, wise man, wisdom, growing old, growing older

Bible reference(s): Ecclesiastes 4:13, Ecclesiastes 11.9, Ecclesiastes 11:10, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Pro 16:31, Proverbs 20:29, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14

Source: “Faith and Old Age,“ The Testimony, Vol. 19, No. 217, January 1949, p. 9.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.