Of all the official members of my church, about 7 percent of them are what the apostle Paul called “older men,” a Greek word that points to ages 50 and up. If that’s you, or someone you know, listen up: “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance” (Titus 2:2).
Those are wise words. Men tend to thrive when they feel respected in life. As they get older, however, their muscles droop, their minds lose their edge, and the next generation passes them by in company value and technological skill. That reality causes many men to become bitter, the “grumpy old men” who gripe about everything under the sun.
Paul wants better for our older brothers in Christ. He wants them to be different, and, through Jesus, they can be. When they fill up their hearts with the promises of God, they don’t need the world’s respect. Instead, grace’s guarantees allow them to age gracefully, to grow in spiritual strength even as their bodies grow weaker.
Guys, if you take Paul’s words to heart, you will be a great blessing to the next generation. Your experiences in war, business, and family will help guide them through the treacherous years of young adulthood and lead them to the one thing that truly matters—God. So ask the Holy Spirit today to make you an older man who is worthy of respect.
