Specific Instruction to Ederly Men

This was written by Jim Bill McInteer. It is copied here from volume 19, number 7, the May 1, 1971 edition of "The Bible Herald".

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ fits every age, talent and need of man. The word of God is that matchless message given to mankind and nothing on earth equals its power.

To the aged men of the church, God had some specific instructions. He said that it was necessary to teach the aged men that they, "be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience." (Titus 2:2) Precisely what does this mean?

The dignity of age demands that those who have so achieved in successful living be sober. Perhaps there is nothing more ridiculous than a "silly old man." His clowning, frivolousness and grandstanding are all distasteful. Not only do the Scriptures teach that the elderly are to be sober, Plato called it one of the "four cardinal virtues." The vigilance of sobriety gives the aged an impact upon all society that nothing else can impart.

Secondly, the older man is instructed to "be grave." Some have used as synonyms for gravity the words august, venerable and reverent. Here is a living sermon that justifies the fact that he has learned life's true values. As younger men listen in view of eternity, the elderly lives in view of it! His contribution is invaluable.

Thirdly, he is instructed to be "temperate." Everything is under control; he is mastered by nothing save the Lord. A control of body and mind is his to employ; and so important is temperance (or self control) that the Holy Spirit uses it in reference to elderly men, elderly women, young men and young women. Everybody is to know the complete mastery over passions and desires.

Lastly, the elderly man is instructed to be "sound in faith, charity and patience." To be sound in the faith, of course, is to be correct of doctrine. No blessing is found in error; no one is advanced by believing what is erroneous. Practice that is contrary to the will of the Lord jeopardizes one's hope of salvation. The second leg of that triangle is to be "sound in charity." It is sometimes difficult to grow older and to grow more lovable at the same time. Some fruits ripen with age whereas others rot. It must be the task of the Christian "old man" to see that he is sound in love. Lastly, he is instructed to be "sound in patience."

Patience is not to be confused with listlessness and of course patience is the enemy of censoriousness and fault finding. That man who is patient has learned to accept and with meekness to continue his service. He has enough charity not to believe the church is going to the dogs just because he is shortly to leave it. Isn't it wonderful to think of the contribution God expects of the elderly men?