This is a repost from Nov 7, 2016
Why do we have ages? What difference does age make? Obviously time does pass and we do change with “age,” yet what is age really? And how does it affect the way we interact with each other?
I was having a conversation with the judge of a writing contest this week and they were commenting that knowing the age of those who submitted stories is interesting because a piece that might seem average if it were written by an adult, could be very impressive if it were written instead by a ten-year-old.
Why is this? Why does the status we give or the perspective we have of things or people often change in relation to age?
Age is something God created. Why? I believe in part so that we might understand what it means to mature, to grow in something, to become more of something. Because, if we did not mature physically, intellectually, and emotionally, perhaps we would not understand what it means to grow and mature spiritually.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of…to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” ~Ephesians 4:11-16~
Clearly there is a distinction made when it comes to ages, but let us recognize, as God does, that each age has strengths.
“I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” ~1John 2:14~
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” ~Proverbs 16:31~
“The glory of young men is their strength…” ~Proverbs 20:29~
“But Jesus…said, “Let the little children come to me…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~Luke 18:16-17~
Many of us know this verse in Timothy.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” ~1Timothy 4:12~
I would encourage us to also consider this verse in reverse as well. Not just as the younger person but as an older person: Don’t look down on anyone because they are young, but set an example for them in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
Even a brief look at Scripture will show that young people did a lot of things in the Bible.
“…the young men who had done the spying…” ~Joshua 6:23~
“Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost… Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” ~1 Samuel 14:6~
“David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.” ~2 Samual 6:1~
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz…to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites…young men…showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace….Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.” ~Daniel 1:3-6~
“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt…” (Which means: Joseph was in his twenties when he was running Potiphar’s house.) ~Genesis 41:46~
“David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.” (Which means all the other stuff David did before becoming king, he did as a child, teenager, and a twenty something.) ~2 Samuel 5:4~
And, of course, we know that older people did many things in Scripture as well.
“And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth…. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark…” ~Genesis 5:32 & 6:13-14~
“Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.” ~Exodus 7:7~
Job must have been middle-aged because this is what he says:
“The young men saw me and hid, and the aged arose and stood” ~Job 29:8~
Then there is also Caleb
“…here I am this day, eighty-five years old…just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain…” ~Joshua 14:10-12~
“Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak…”~ Joshua 15:14~
Challenge: Regardless of your age, be mature and set an example for both young and old in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. (1Ti 4:12)
When the rocks speak 