Value Senior Adulthood

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

INTRO: In many ways we now live in a culture that has lost the attitude of honoring older people. The utilitarian assessment of the value of a human life causes many to see older adults as having nothing of value to contribute to society.

As a result of this, there is a lost respect, admiration, and in some cases proper care for the elderly. Many no longer see age as being a source of valuable wisdom.

In the world of the bible the elderly were shown proper regard. They were looked to for counsel and guidance. In some instances, people would even rise to their feet when an older person entered the room.

Proverbs 16:31 NKJV

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29 NKJV

The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

Psalm 92:13–14 NKJV

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,

Teach Mutual Respect in the Family

Exodus 20:12 ““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done with love.”

2 Timothy 1:5-6 “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Honor and Love Parents

The Fifth Commandment states that the fundamental God-given responsibility of the child is to honor their parents. To be obedient to parents. Parents should be doing the very best for their children.

Honoring parents is to be taken seriously, because the results of not doing so can be disastrous for the child, family and society.

The purpose of the Fifth Commandment is that the Godly parents will train up their children who will become godly adults and parents.

There are no perfect parents, no perfect families, but love enables us to look past the imperfections. Love enables us to honor what is true, honest, virtuous and praiseworthy in ouir parents.

Appreciate the Legacy of Faith

2 Timothy 1:5–6 NKJV

when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Timothy’s mother and grandmother were devout Jews and then became believers in Jesus as the Messiah.

Paul states that in his prayers for Timothy, he remembered the genuine faith in Timothy that was also in his mother and grandmother.

The legacy of faith is that which is passed from parents to children by the influence of the parents on their children.

This legacy of faith is more valuable than anything else we could leave our children with, or the world could offer.

Mark 8:36 NKJV

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Paul encourage Timothy to sir up the legacy of faith he had received, to use it in committed faithful serice to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Respect and Care for Older Christians

1 Timothy 5:1–11 (NKJV)

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

Pau was giving Timothy how to treat the older man and women of the church. With respect.

older men respected like a father

young men as brothers

older women as his own mother

younger women as sisters

Proper Care for Older Women

1 Timothy 5:3–11 (NKJV)

Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

One of the first ministries in the church was to take care of the needy widows of the church.

Paul instructed Timothy to honor those widows who were widows indeed.

Widows were defined as one without material support from family. She was dependent upon God. A woman of prayer.

sixty (60) years of age

not remarried

reputation for doing good works

Honoring widows in deed meant treating them with Christian respect and love, and providing for their material needs.

Finish Well

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NKJV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

A plain fact about being an elderly person is that the end of one’s life is drawing near. The only way to prepare is to know that you have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Elisha Received Elijah’s Mantle

2 Kings 2:5–14 (NKJV)

Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”

So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”

But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

When Elijah’s Mantle (a sleeveless sheepskin cloak) fell to the ground and was picked up by Elisha, this signified Elisha’s request had been granted. He became heir to Elijah’s ministry.

Older Christians can finish well by helping younger Christians to prepare for ministry, to continue the kingdom work. One generation passes, the next comes the work of the Lord must continue from generation to generation.