Share the Wisdom of the Elderly

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible offers a radically different perspective on aging and the elderly. Far from being a burden, older people are portrayed as sources of wisdom, honor, and continued fruitfulness.

If you have spent your years walking with God and learning from Him, then you have earned every grey hair on your head. They should be celebrated and worn like a crown, as a testament that you are the living, breathing child of a King.

God Does Not Operate an Age Bar

God does not operate an age bar or retirement age. Throughout Scripture, we see God choosing older individuals for His greatest works:

The Gift of Wisdom

Understanding Wisdom

When people think of wisdom, they immediately think of scholarly knowledge or extensive learning. But wisdom could be defined as having the knowledge of what is true and right. The Greek philosopher Socrates defined wisdom beautifully: "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know.

Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and data that you have learned about or experienced. It is being aware of something and having information gathered through study, research, investigation, observation, or experience.

Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge which aspects of that knowledge are true, right, lasting, and applicable to your life. It is the ability to apply that knowledge to the greater scheme of life—knowing the meaning or reason, understanding why something is and what it means to your existence.

Biblical Wisdom

The biblical definition of wisdom is the fear of the Lord—that's where it begins, and God is the source of that wisdom. Paul makes a clear distinction between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom. The earthly wisdom is really no wisdom at all because "the wisdom of this world is folly with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19).

The fear referred to here is not the fear of being struck down by lightning or being struck dead, but it is a deep, abiding, holy reverence and respect for the Lord and for His word. Where there is reverence, there tends to be obedience, and God has said He prefers obedience over sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6).

The Source of Wisdom

King Solomon was not born wise—perhaps he was not even a scholar—but he sought wisdom. He located the source of wisdom and found a way of getting it. He realized that wisdom was with God and that to get it, one must ask for it. He had to get close to God and have a conversation with Him. One should have one's communication channels open with God.

Why Should We Listen to Old People?

There is ambivalence about the wisdom of older people if popular culture is any guide. We are provided with buffoonish images of old people in popular media. Despite these negative images, young people are open to the idea of older people as potential repositories of wisdom. Still, young people are right to ask: Why should I spend time listening to old people's advice about how to live my life?

Let me offer three compelling reasons:

1. Listening promotes well-being and even survival

   For centuries, the accumulated wisdom of older people was key to human survival. Not only did the old improve the survival chances of their tribe, they were also the source of tried and tested experience—the true "elders" to whom group members would go in times of crisis.

2. Elders are a unique and extraordinary generation

   People in their seventies and beyond have lived through experiences many of us today can only imagine. Their lives have often included "ultimate limit situations"—situations that cannot be undone and were nonetheless faced with consciousness and resolve. It is precisely these situations that lead to wisdom. This unique perspective is a valuable lens through which younger people can view their own lives.

3. Elders offer an alternative to conventional wisdom

   Conventional wisdom is what members of a society learn while they are growing up. It ultimately becomes the basis of our identity and self-esteem. It's very hard to see beyond conventional wisdom, even if it makes us live smaller and less happy lives. But it is in the challenge to the conventional worldview that the true value of elder wisdom lies. The elders make us examine our assumptions and make more conscious decisions about our own scripts for happiness.

The Consequences of Ignoring Elder Wisdom

After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam succeeded as king. He went to Shechem where all the people of northern Israel gathered to make him king. The people made a request: if he made their life easier than Solomon, who had put heavy burdens on them, they would be his loyal subjects.

Rehoboam consulted the older men who were the advisers of Solomon. They advised him to give a favorable answer to the people. But he refused their advice and took the counsel of his younger friends who were his new advisers—to be much tougher than Solomon.

The consequence? The nation was divided into two: Judea, where Rehoboam ruled as king, and Israel, where Jeroboam was appointed as king. This division marked a turning point in Israel's history, all because a young king rejected the wisdom of experienced elders.

Responsibility of Older People

Old Christian men and women have a duty to help the younger generation.

This should be the prayer of many, asking God to stay with them and to remember them throughout their lives. We live long enough to see God's wonderful work and should ache at the thought of someone not getting that chance. We hope that we can help others to know Him as we have known Him.