Occasionally someone with a need to become important begins to spread a rumor that the preacher is too old to do his work and the congregation is suffering because of his age. This is just one of those tactics that the Devil uses to undermine the truth and the peace in a local congregation. Remember you will never see the Devil in person; the Devil appears in human form sometimes as a brother in Christ or even as an “angel of light” – cf. 2 Cor 11:14-15, “14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
There are no age limits for the ministers of the gospel; the New Testament and early traditions indicate that there were good men preaching the gospel into their very old age. We may also see in the Old Testament that most of the great heroes of the 11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews were old men who continued until they died.
PLEASE LOOK AT THE WORK OF MOSES:
Deut 34:1-8, And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shall not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.”
PLEASE CONSIDER CALEB:
Joshua 14:6-13, Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.” (KJV)
Indeed, we would do well to set at the feet of the aged ministers to learn of the great experiences that the older men have had with regard to their work over long years of faithful service. Therefore if a man is faithful, mentally alert, and able to speak clearly — why should he stop teaching and preaching the gospel message to the lost and dying in this world and also in the pews of many church-buildings throughout the land?
I have known of preachers with one arm, in wheel chairs, in their 80s, grey headed, and sometimes bald headed who worked harder and longer each day than most Christians half their age. As long as they are mentally and spiritually capable to perform, encourage them to keep up the good work.
MORE INSTRUCTION REGARDING OLDER CHRISTIANS:
Lev. 19:32, Thou shall rise up before the hoary head , and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. (KJV)
Prov. 16:31, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.”
Prov 20:29, The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Prov. 23:22, Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”
THE BEST WAY TO FORM REBELLION AMONG THE PEOPLE:
(Seek the advise of the young – and – do not listen to the aged faithful)
1 Kings 12:6-19, And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shall thou speak unto this people that spoke unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shall thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men , saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (KJV)
A LETTER FROM AN AGED PREACHER:
I have Reached A Milestone. Now What? Ill health has forced retirement and so now what shall my life be – Shall I whine and complain a lot since my voice is taken from me? For some fifty years He allowed me to proclaim the salvation “in Christ:” And so I thought that’s what I’d do for the remainder of my natural life! But I have other talents as well – abilities not requiring a voice I can still read and I can write – So writing is another good choice! “The pen is mightier than the sword” Someone wrote long ago it’s so true God committed His word to written form – So why can’t I do the same thing too? Paul wrote “when you read you may understand.” Writing of the salvation of the Jew & Gentile too some say I have the ability to teach via poetry so then that’s at least something that I can still do. — Ephesians 3:1-6,1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (KJV) — By Kenneth E. Thomas – 2008