The cold reality is, in some settings people that are fifty years of age find it extremely difficult to secure a job because employers consider them to be too old. Many people have had to struggle through the ordeal of being "let go" from their job because a company was wanting more youthful workers. Others feel like they have been pushed aside or "put out to pasture" in other aspects of life. It can be a discouraging, depressing experience.

Great numbers of people are convinced that if you are not young anymore, then you are a nobody. Many have bought into the falsehood that if their youthful years have long passed them by, then they are of little or no value in this world. Unfortunately, even some Christians feel that since they are getting up there in years, they are not worth much in the work of the Kingdom.

Someone said that the expression "old person" refers to anyone that is at least fifteen years older than you are. Being "young" or "old" is really about perspective: "young" or "old" in comparison to whom?

There are multitudes of people that are definitely no "spring chickens," but they are still able to accomplish a lot in their respective roles in society. For instance, the current lieutenant governor of the state of Tennessee, John S. Wilder, is 85 years old, and has been serving in his present role for 35 years. I know nothing about the man’s politics or character, but it is pretty clear that no on has convinced him that once you hit official retirement age, then you are no longer able to do anything worthwhile.

Hardcore professional baseball fans are familiar with Julio Franco, who, now a New York Met, in most recent years played for the Atlanta Braves. Franco truly is "the old man" of baseball, as he still plays at the professional level at the age of 47, making him twice as old as many of his peers. In April 2006, as a 47-year old, Franco hit a home run, "becoming the oldest player in Major League history to hit a home run. He is also the oldest player ever to hit a grand slam, a pinch-hit home run, two home runs in one game, and to steal two bases in a game" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Franco]. It looks like Mr. Franco does not buy into the idea that if you are no longer young, then you are good-for-nothing nobody.

Think about some of the great people about whom we read in the Bible. David served as king of Israel for forty years. Since he became king at age thirty, that means that he was still serving as king at the age of seventy (2 Samuel 5:4). Moses was 80 years of age, and his brother Aaron was 83, when Jehovah sent them to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus 7:7). And what about Noah? He was a mere 600 years old when he was able to get his entire family into the ark (Genesis 7:6,7). Obviously, during the Old Testament era, God did not have the mentality that His servants were of no value in His Cause once they reached a certain age.

In the New Testament, we read of a man that described himself as "the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Philemon 9). That "aged" one, of course, was the apostle Paul. As an aging saint in prison, surely he was of little value to the Master’s Cause. If that is what you think, then you are greatly mistaken. While in prison, Paul continued teaching the gospel and was able to help convert some to the Lord (Philemon 10). Even while in chains, he wrote epistles to individuals and congregations, encouraging them and letting them know of his future plans to work for the Lord. Yes, Pal was looking forward to further opportunities to serve the Master. Though Paul looked at himself as "the aged" one, he was certainly not a member of the since-I-am-old-I’ll-just-sit-in-my-rocking-chair-and-watch-as-others-do-all-the-work-in-the-church club.

What about brother Mnason? You do remember him, don’t you? When Paul was heading to Jerusalem at the end of his third recorded preaching journey, Mnason accompanied Paul’s group for the last leg of the trip. "There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge" (Acts 21:16). Old brother Mnason was right there in the thick of things. He was "an old disciple" alright, just like many of us are, but he was not a disciple that counted his age as a supposed justification for not participating in the work of the Kingdom.

There are those of our generation that are great workers in the Kingdom, even though they are "way up there in years." I think of the late sweet sister Doris Kemp, who taught children’s Bible classes in Indianapolis every week for sixty years. She was still teaching into her mind-80’s. Are you familiar with brother Perry B. Cotham? HE has written a number of outstanding tracts and preached in many countries of the world. His last evangelistic trip overseas took place about six months ago. He keeps a very busy preaching schedule. Did I mention that he is now 94 years young?! That’s right, and the man is still on fire for the Lord. He, and many others like him, do not accept the philosophy that if you are not young, then you are a nobody. Verily, verily, I say unto you, in every local church about which I have had knowledge, some of the most energetic, dependable workers are older members. Thank God for such steadfast servants and the example they set!

Are you a grandparent? When your grandchild pitches a fuss to get to sit with you or spend the night with you, does that mean that you are a nobody? Not hardly. Are you retired from secular work? If so, why not make plans to use your "sunset years" to do even more in God’s vineyard? Encouraging the downhearted, visiting the sick or shut-ins, writing cards to those that visit the services of the church, being involved in the church’s benevolent activities, teaching the gospel to friends and neighbors, living a godly life before the church’s youth – these are just some of the things that older members of the Lord’s body can do that greatly benefit the church. In particular, congregations are blessed that have elders and deacons who have retired from secular work, because such brothers have the potential to devote even more of their time to the work of either shepherding or serving the flock of God.

Some people leave this world before they make it out of their teenage years. Some never even make it out of infancy. On the other hand, there are masses of people that live well into their seventies, eighties, or even nineties. While the years may take their toll on the physical body in such a way that one’s walking pace slows a bit, the length of his/her workday shortens, and the naps come more frequently, the idea of retiring from the Lord’s service is not a biblical concept. There IS much to do. There IS work on every hand, and we need every hand busy in the Lord’s work, regardless of how smooth or wrinkled one’s hand might be!

If you are no longer young, that does not make you a loser. It does not mean that you have lost your value. If you have outlived many of your peers, that does not mean that you should sit and do nothing. Regardless of our age, each one of us should take to heart the approach of the apostle Paul and try to emulate the attitude that he maintained until he departed from this world: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

-- Roger D. Campbell