“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever” (1 Kings 12:6-7 NKJV).
I confess. Recently I’ve wrestled with this thought more than once:
“Am I too old for this?”
If you're in your twenties or thirties, you may not have that thought yet. But I've become acquainted with this crazy voice whispering in my ear:
“Time to trade in the trendy platform shoes for a pair of comfy flats. My feet just aren’t what they used to be.”
“Gotta be in bed by nine because my internal clock won’t let me sleep past five, even on Saturday.”
“Maybe I’ll buy that sheer under-shirt they keep advertising on TV. The one that makes the back of your arms look less flabby.”
“I’m glad the silver hair look is the new in thing!”
It’s so easy to look around and notice the younger crowd. But this shouldn't deter me from my mission or cause me to lose my drive! God has a special work for each of us – young, old, and somewhere in-between.
In 1 Kings, chapter 12, King Rehoboam consulted a group of wise elders who served his father Solomon. Solomon was known for his wisdom. Rehoboam, unfortunately, was not.
“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever” (1 Kings 12:6-7 NKJV).
This passage of scripture highlights that there’s value in wisdom that comes from life experiences. These men served under Solomon and gained a wealth of experience under his reign. Unfortunately, Rehoboam did not follow the elder’s counsel. (That however, is a lesson for another post.)
Today, we need to claim God’s perfect purpose that He lovingly gave to each one of us. As we grow and mature, this purpose doesn’t fade or wither. It only grows deeper and stronger.
Our desire to serve never ends, no matter how old we are. Once God places it in our hearts, it’s there for good.
My we all feel rejuvenated by these words and give that crazy voice of ours an attitude overhaul.
“I’ll never be too old for this. In fact, this is just the beginning!”