“Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” – African Proverb
God doesn’t tell us to listen to the elderly because they’re often right, but because they also have more experience being wrong. Solomon’s work of Ecclesiastes will attest to that.
Every Tuesday the senior Tompkinsville church family members gather at the church building for a Bible study. The class is made up of some of the greatest examples of elderly faithful servants that the brotherhood has to offer. Their wisdom and life experience is invaluable and taking advantage of that, the question was posed–
“What would you tell yourself if you could talk to yourself back in High School?”
Here are some of their answers…
K: “Make your circle of friends larger. Be friends with everybody. You’ll thank yourself later in life because it’s always beneficial to know more people.”
J: “Be able to think past the next week. Your choices will affect your future. Choose your friends wisely, and don’t try so hard to fit in. Make sure your closest friends are members of the church.”
M: “Raise your kids in the church and emphasize the importance of going to worship. If they stray away when they get older, there’s a greater chance that they’ll return. Just ensure that they know how important it is so that they’ll always know where they need to be. Make your kids go to worship.”
G: “Seek the truth while you’re young. I wasn’t a member of the church in high school and I wish I hadn’t waited so long.”
K: “If you think you shouldn’t— don’t.”
J: “Develop a good Bible study routine while you’re young.”
This wasn’t all they had to say, but there’s something powerful about listening to the wisdom of the elderly (especially in the church) because it solidifies the trustworthiness of Biblical teaching. How many mistakes would we have avoided if we were able to go back and talk some sense into our younger selves?
“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” Leviticus 19.32
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