Wisdom often results from time and experience. It should not, however, be assumed that old age automatically equals wisdom. For instance, the Bible says, “Better is . . . a wise child than an old and foolish king.” Wisdom comes from the Lord, and He distributes wisdom irrespective of one’s age. Perhaps the wisest statements given by man found within the Book of Job were given by a young man named Elihu (Job 32:6). He listened carefully as Job’s older friends spewed forth foolish words. He thought that “days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom” (Job 32:7). Eventually, he came to the conclusion, “great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment” (Job 32:9).
Respect is not inherited but must be earned. Paul wrote to young Timothy admonishing him to “let no man despise” his youth. In other words, Timothy was responsible for how others handled his youthfulness. Paul’s advice for Timothy was for him to be an example to other believers in every facet of life. If he did that, no man would despise his youth. They would begin to see Timothy as a man and would have no problem following his leadership. His youth would not be a hindrance. In the beginning, David was disdained because of his youth (1 Samuel 17:33, 42), but when he defeated Goliath and gave Israel the victory, he was given the respect of a war hero. David did not show up demanding or even expecting others to respect him; he earned it through his actions.
From youth, man is gripped by sin’s attraction. As he ages, the source of temptation may vary, but the fact that he is tempted remains constant. Paul instructed young Timothy to “flee . . . youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22), yet Solomon’s heart was turned after other gods when he “was old” (1 Kings 11:4). Many believers have wasted the precious years of youth by succumbing to the youthful lusts of which Paul warned Timothy. Others have fought the good fight in their youth, only to regretfully compromise in their waning years. There is no time or age for the believer to be at ease concerning sin. Sin can be pleasurable but is always deceptive with uncertain outcomes for those who indulge.
The strength of any people will be determined by how they deal with two people groups: their young and their old. If at any point, either of these two groups becomes viewed as simply burdensome, both will cease to effectively attain God’s intended desire for society. The aged members of society are most often its wisest. They have had successes and failures and learned from both (Deuteronomy 32:7). They have witnessed the Lord’s provision through difficult times (Psalm 37:25). God purposed for the aged to instruct the young in practical and spiritual matters (Titus 2:1-11). While the young should feed off of the wisdom of the aged, the elderly members of society can be nourished by the joy, strength, and life of younger people (Ruth 4:15).
The average believer when asked about his efforts to share the gospel may offer up several “reasons” why it is not feasible for him or her to tell others about their need for salvation. These reasons often seem spiritual in nature and are sometimes even accompanied by verses of scripture for support. However, the real truth is that believers who do not witness fail to do so because they are ashamed. Those believers who refuse to witness will be offended by this statement, but the apostle Paul confirms its validity. The reason Paul was “ready to preach the gospel” to those who were at Rome was because he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Why was he not ashamed? Because he knew that it was “the power of God unto salvation.” Those who do not witness may offer excuses, but in reality they fail to believe in the power of God.
Imagine the vulnerabilities of a watchman who refuses to keep his eyes open to every possible angle from which danger could arise. No doubt the enemy would scout the land observing the bad habits of the watchman. If the watchman fails to examine each point of entry, the enemy will attack from the unprotected angle. In like manner, believers are to walk circumspectly. The word circumspect means to look all around. Believers are to be sober and vigilant knowing that their enemy, the Devil, “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). God’s enemies always search for the weak spot where the hedge has been cut down or ignored. This is why there is no angle in the believer’s life that can be safely ignored.
Most battles won have been won because of being equipped with the proper weaponry. Though the substance may be different in Christian warfare, the same theme prevails. No believer is nearly as successful in battle as he is when he dons “the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11). This armour assists the believer as he seeks to stand “against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This armour defends the loins with truth, the vital organs with righteousness (Ephesians 6:14), the head with salvation (Ephesians 6:17), and the entirety with faith (Ephesians 6:16). The same armour provides the offensive weaponry in the word of God and prayer (Ephesians 6:17-18). Notice that the spiritual weaponry lacks any emphasis upon the physical.
Sometimes the most difficult and significant tasks involve the simplest truths. For instance, every Christian should quickly learn that vengeance belongs unto the Lord. God confirms as much throughout scripture (Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 94:1; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). This should be understandable as only the Lord has all the necessary information to execute just vengeance 100 percent of the time. When man attempts to execute vengeance, he often does so out of an improper motive or without key information of the evil that appears to have been done. Furthermore, when a believer takes vengeance into his own hands, he robs the Lord of His right and responsibility to exact vengeance at the right time and in the right manner.
Paul and Barnabas admonished the heathen to turn from “vanities unto the living God.” One cannot trust in the Lord and simultaneously trust in anything else. In order for an individual to be saved, he must repent of trusting in anything other than the Lord. One aspect of repentance involves ceasing to trust vanity and turning one’s faith toward the living and true God. This saving faith needs to become a living faith following salvation. Believers should consistently turn from “vain thoughts” and love the law of God (Psalm 119:113). They should turn from the vain labours that spend their strength for nought (Isaiah 49:4) and be “steadfast . . . in the work of the Lord” knowing that their “labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Additionally, believers should turn from “vain words” (Ephesians 5:6) and hold “forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:16).
Though the means of worldly safety have changed throughout time, people have always put their trust in various things to offer temporary safety. The Bible depicts those who trusted in fenced walls (Deuteronomy 28:52), nations (Isaiah 30:2-3), horses, horsemen and chariots (Isaiah 31:1), weapons (Psalm 44:6), and mountains (Amos 6:1). People today place their trust in weapons, security systems, governments, insurance policies, and even medicines. Though the sources of trust have changed, the Lord remains just as grieved today when men place their trust upon the things of this world rather than upon Him. Ultimately, every source of worldly safety will fail, often in the moment we perceive as our greatest time of need.
