God Speaking

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

(Job 12:12)

Many years ago while I was minding one of my small granddaughters, who is now a young woman, she began to look very intently into my face and then asked me, “Are you old or very old?” In those days I didn’t consider myself to be old, so neither answer actually appealed to me. The next question didn’t appeal to me either; “Are you going to die soon?” Later when I shared with the family we all laughed, but we realised even though she was so young, my granddaughter was discovering what “age” meant.

Just recently a friend and I were discussing how technology has changed the balance of knowledge between the young and the old. It is hard not to feel inadequate when the young appear to absorb knowledge from the internet, text, use apps, etc. so quickly and seemingly with very little effort on their part. When I, myself, call on granddaughters to help me with my computer, I feel where have the days gone when knowledge was attained the hard way and took years to absorb and the young turned to the aged to learn from them and then my friend said a very wise thing.

It is not always knowledge that separates the young and the old, it is wisdom and experience. The young can still learn from the older generation.

As I began to think through this I went back to the book of Proverbs which in itself is filled with wise words from a father to a son, and found the opening prologue which describes the purpose and theme, and discovered it gives great clarity to the need to have wisdom in the way we live the lives God has granted us.

“for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (Proverbs 1:2 – 3)

We who love the Lord have an even greater responsibility to pass on our wisdom to the young. We have been commissioned to pass on our own experiences of the Heavenly Father, making sure no youth misses out on discovering his great love for them;

“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” (Psalm 145: 4 – 5)

The good news needs to be passed from generation to generation. Further on in this Psalm, David emphasises the fact that as the wisdom is passed on the youth take up the challenge and equally take on the responsibility to keep that wisdom circulating.

“They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:6 – 7)

I love being with young people and find them stimulating and exciting as they make me see life through their eyes, but I never want to lose sight of the necessity to also let them see life through (definitely old now) my eyes, as I share the wisdom I have learnt from walking closely with the Lord and I would encourage the young to seek out old faithful followers in their churches, families, neighbourhoods to be encouraged by their wisdom.