Title: Things to do when you're old
Text: “The old man should be temperate, watchful, sober, complete in faith, love, and perseverance” (verse 2).
As the average life expectancy has increased, preparation for old age has emerged as one of the current issues in our society. How much should each person prepare for retirement until he dies, and real estate is the best way to prepare for old age.
Let's take this time to think about how we should spend our old age together.
If youth is the morning of life, old age is the twilight of life. Mornings are important, but getting the job done right in the evening is just as important.
It is important to plant seeds in the spring, but it is also important to have a good harvest in the fall. You have to start well, but you need to finish better. That is why we emphasize the beauty of Yujong (有終).
The famous oriental famous Chae Geum-dam said, "When looking at life, do not look at the first half of life, but look at the second half."
Just as there is glory in youth, there is glory in old age. Just as there are temptations and temptations when you are young, there are temptations and temptations even when you are old. Therefore, it is said to be temperate, godly, sober, perfecting faith, love, and perseverance.
In old age, we must give up false conservatism, stubborn stubbornness, and excessive greed. And you must continue to live a creative life.
Of course, when you get older, you retire from active duty. But you shouldn't do anything. We must continue to do what God allows our health to do.
A man like Moses, the leader of Israel in the past, started the great work of rescuing his people at the age of 80. Even when you are old, you can work and bear much fruit. It is very important to be able to pass the old days right away.
“It bears fruit in old age, it is full of sap, and the light is green” (Psalm 92:14).
There is a painter named Lieberman, who is called ‘the Chagall of America’. He started painting at the age of eighty-one. Born in Poland, Lieberman immigrated to the United States with only $5 when he was nine years old, and was an ordinary man who ran a candy store in Manhattan.
After retiring at the age of 74, Lieberman spent his leisure time playing Go at the elderly home. But one day, his Go partner broke his promise and was spending a lot of free time alone. Then a young volunteer said, “Let’s paint a picture.” Lieberman found a studio, and from then on, after 10 weeks of training, he showed off his amazing talent. It was when he was eighty-one. The painter Liebermann was called “American Chagall with primitive eyes,” and his paintings sold wildly. He surprised the world by opening his 22nd solo exhibition at the age of one hundred and one.
It's never too late for anything until your heart stops beating. It's just that we're not trying.
“O God, do not forsake me when I am old and alone, and do not forsake me until I pass on your strength to the next generation and your power to all people to come” (Psalm 71:18).
The poet here is not praying for a long life in the world simply by human instinct when he is old and becomes a benign person. In fact, everyone has an instinct to want to live a long time. If anyone said no, it would be a lie.
Therefore, among the sayings that have been passed down from the past, there are three lies that everyone tells. The first is that virgins will not marry, the second is that merchants sell them, and the third is that the old man wants to die soon.
But what does it mean to just instinctively live long? It should have meaning to live long.
The poet here had a clear reason. It is to pass on the power of the Lord to the next generation and ask them not to forsake it until the power of the Lord is communicated to everyone in the future.
That's right. As people get older, there are things that are precious. It is experience and wisdom gained over the years. It is a treasure that is difficult for a young person to have. Therefore, with this wisdom, I have a mission to counsel young people and guide them on the path to success in life.
One of the things to do when you are old is to pray for your juniors and descendants.
One of the many reasons Timothy became a precious servant of God was the prayers of his mother, Yuni-gye, and his grandmother, Lois, for him. Not only that. This is the prayer of Paul, the father of faith. Whenever Paul prayed, he thought of Timothy.
Blessed are children who have praying parents. His life will be a success.
F J Crosby is still famous as the lyricist for our favorite hymns. Although he was blind due to illness as a child, he lived a life of beautiful fruit in Christ until old age. Especially at the twilight of his life, his words still resonate with our hearts.
“I've been trying to develop a cheerful personality for decades now. Because I've seen a lot of cases where people change their personality as they get older and don't get along well with others. So I made this decision a long time ago. I will never be a nerdy old man and I will always be a cheerful person wherever I go. It is my goal to live a mature, prosperous and joyous old age. I want to be an old man loved by people, not someone people are afraid of.”
If we too strive like Mrs. Crosby while dreaming of a wonderful self-portrait in Christ, one day we will be able to become loved by others.
Normally, when a tree grows old and becomes an old tree, it does not bear fruit, the sap dries up, and the leaves turn yellow due to lack of nutrients.
But those who depend on God do not. Of course, the outward person is ruined. are you getting old But the inner man is new day by day. Therefore, those who believe in God should continue to learn even when they are old. We must continue to learn new things, understand the new age, and do our best to keep up with the new age in any way.
From a medical point of view, old age does not mean that the head becomes dull. Usually, they say to themselves, "I'm old and dull" and have a problem.
And you have to work hard to renew your inner person.
The famous Indian poet Tagol said, "As I am getting older, I do not rely on wet oars, but now I set my sails high and rely on the wind."
So it should be. Don't rely too much on yourself. We must set the sail of faith high and depend on God's power to provide wind.
When the physical eyes are darkened, the spiritual eyes are opened.
The leaves are most beautiful when they fall. Fruits are most beautiful when they ripen in autumn. It is the most beautiful when the crops are harvested, and the sun is the most beautiful at sunset in Seosan. The old age of life is also a time when character and faith become mature and beautiful. Now is the time to develop meek, humble, sincere, amicable, understanding, and complete Christian character. Therefore, it is not sad that the saints are getting old. It is unfortunate to die as an ugly old man. Old age is a time when one's personality matures and becomes beautiful. Beautiful old age It is indeed a good model to empower everyone.
*Prayer: God, the source of hope, help me not to be alone in my life and always in communion with God. Without the presence of the Lord, the fountain of my hope will inevitably dry up. May I receive your grace and dwell in hope. Help my family, relatives, and friends who still do not know you from being engrossed in futility, and deliver them from the folly of enjoying stability in the tumult of the world. Praise the great God who sees the future without looking at my past. May your vision become my vision and let the power of the Holy Spirit do the Lord's work. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus.