Growing Old From A Biblical Perspective

As people, we sometimes have funny concepts about growing old. We don’t want to become old, but neither do we want to die young. Samuel Ullman is quoted as saying, “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" (source).

Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair – these are negative qualities that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust. As we grow older, we need to consider that “how” we grow old is far more important than how “old” we grow.

With the above thoughts in mind, let’s observe the following biblical perspectives of growing old:

1) God wants us to grow old wisely – Job said, “Wisdom is with aged men, with long life is understanding” (Job 12:12). The lessons of hardship, success and failure we learn in life should be passed on to the younger generation (Psalm 71:17-18) and hopefully the younger generation will have enough wisdom to listen (Proverbs 2:1-2).

2) God wants us to grow old righteously – The Proverb writer tells us, “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31). May God bless the older man or woman who, day by day, grows more closely into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15; Gal. 2:20).

3) God wants us to grow old in serving Him – Luke tells us of the prophetess Anna who, at the age of 84 “….did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37). A member of the Lord’s church was heard saying, “All I can do is pray.” All I can do? My, how we underestimate the power of prayer in our lives! (Ephesians 6:18; cf. Luke 18:1-8; Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2).

4) God wants us to grow old trusting Him – God promised to His people, “Even to your old age I shall be the same, And even to your graying years I shall bear you! I have done it, and I shall carry you; And I shall bear you and I shall deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4 NASB).

Dear reader, there is no doubt that we will grow old if we continue living upon this earth (Ecclesiastes 12:1-6). However, as we stated in the beginning of this study, “how” we grow old is far more important than how “old” we grow. Let us have the same attitude toward serving the Lord in our later years as Caleb, never quitting (or retiring), but asking the Lord to continue giving us more challenges (“mountains”) to conquer and overcome with the Lord’s help (Joshua 14:12).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets