Just as each day brims with your beauty, my mouth brims with praise. But don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight. My enemies are talking behind my back, watching for their chance to knife me. The gossip is: “God has abandoned him. Pounce on him now; no one will help him.”
You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I’m telling the world your wonders; I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
Psalm 70:8-11, 17-18 The Message
Ageism, or discrimination against the elderly, exists in our world. It should not be so, but the truth is that some older individuals are written off simply because of their age.
Here, the Psalmist speaks of his enemies glancing his way, and muttering to themselves, “God has abandoned him.” Further, those enemies seem certain that their smug and dismissive attitude towards the old is held by others. That is why they believe they can attack with impunity: they can attack, and no one will come to the Psalmist’s rescue.
How wrong they are! The truth is that God doesn’t abandon anyone. A careful reading of the scriptures reveals that our God is Lord of all, and especially those who are downtrodden, ignored, or judged to be hopeless. Therefore, the Psalmist is encouraged. He promises that he will serve God not only now, but even when “I’m old and gray.”
No one is ever too young to learn about the Lord, or too old to tell others about the Lord. God never puts an expiration date on anyone. We are His tools until the day we die. At different stages of live, we may find ourselves transitioning into other ways to minister. Yet the opportunities to serve the Lord are always at our doorstep.
The expression, “with age comes wisdom”, is not just a trite saying. With aging comes the dawning realization that we will always be learning, and truly we will never know it all. Although our circumstances may change, God loves for us never wavers. In a similar way, our love for God should remain a constant throughout our lives.
Knowing that the need is remains great, we will always have a mission field. A kind word to someone who is feeling crushed by the weight of the world may be just what that person needs, at the very moment we offer that kind word. Never think that the Lord is finished with you. He may have just begun helping you to find your new mission field.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the comforting knowledge that You never give up, never stop, and never turn away from me. Forgive me when I walk past an opportunity to give a gentle word. Pardon me when I neglect to perform a kind act for someone, showing them You through me. Help me to be to see every opportunity You set before me to show others Your love.
Thankfully, I pray these words in Your Holy name, Amen
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