Old people activity was the name of a worksheet I used in Bible class recently with a lesson on Rehoboam. It had a list of people in the Old Testament with scripture references to find their age. I couldn’t imagine living to be 950 years old like Noah (Genesis 9:29) or even 127 years like Sarah (Genesis 23:1). God had a good purpose for people living as long as they did in Old Testament times. Then it had this true and false question. 

True or False: We grow old and die because we aren’t useful to anyone anymore. 

What a question! The nine year olds did not skip a beat. They all answered false. These kids all understood that old people are still useful. Nine year olds might think their parents are old and their grandparents are ancient, but they are still useful to them. They couldn’t go anywhere far or buy anything without us old people. As we all know, there does come a time when kids grow up and don’t rely so much on us old folk. 

I think Rehoboam reached that time in 1 Kings 12. In 1 Kings 11:43, King Solomon “rested with his fathers” and Rehoboam “his son reigned in his place”. The people came to Rehoboam and wanted to know what kind of king he would be. They wanted Rehoboam to “lighten the burdensome service” of his father and the “heavy yoke” which he put on them (1Kings 12:4). Rehoboam took three days to decide what the best course of action would be. He went first to the “elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived” (1 Kings 12:6). He then went to “the young men who had grown up with him” (1 Kings 12:10). The three days were up and Rehoboam had to give the people his answer. Rehoboam “answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (1 Kings 12:13,14). Rehoboam did not like what the old people told him. He found their advice useless and unappealing and decided what his peers advised was best. It wasn’t the best advice and it caused plenty of problems. You can read the rest of the story in 1 Kings 12 and following. 

Every day I’m marching deeper into the old people camp. Every day I wonder if those younger than me are starting to think I’m becoming useless. But every day in God’s word I read verses like…

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.” Psalm 71:9

“They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:14,15

“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

We read how the older women are supposed to teach the younger women in Titus 2. We read about an 84 year old named Anna “who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:37,38). 

Being older doesn’t mean we are useless. It may mean we work at a slower pace. We might not be as strong as we once were, and we probably shouldn’t climb ladders anymore.

Being older means we have had experiences that others have not had. It means we have learned lessons others can learn from. It means we know how important encouragement is to those younger and even those older than us.  We can continue to encourage others with cards, calls, texts or even meaningful conversations. It means our lives are more focused on eternity. We know we are closer to it everyday and we want to help others focus on that more. It means letting others clean the gutters while we clean light switches and door knobs. It means being able to do small things that still make huge impacts. It will always means that while we are growing old and will eventually die our lives are and will forever be useful to those around us and especially to God.

By: Kristina Odom