A Gray Crown Of Wisdom

Proverbs 16:31 says "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." (NIV).

The keynote speaker at a men's conference today was a 74 year old man who controls a hundred year old family business. He spoke of how God helped him use his business to reach the lost. Through the years he learned to trust God and rely on His wisdom to guide his personal and business affairs. As a result, his company and personal life were not only enriched but he became well known in the business community as a caring and kind man.

Later our pastor (who himself is turning 63) reminded us of Hebrews 13:7, "Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith (ISV).

For a generation driven by youthfulness and beauty the mandate to respect and follow the example of the aged believer is crucial for our own maturity in the faith. In the end, we ourselves will become gray haired and aged - but will our crown be marked by wisdom or by folly?

Timothy lived by the command found in Exodus 20:12. Apostle Paul observed this by saying, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV).

As I near my 48th birthday I've become aware of the widening gap from my generation (at the end of 1960s) to this present time. I'm surprised how many children are communicating through cell phones and other devices but when speaking to their parents or other authority figures - their words verge on the borders of being rude and dismissive. There's been something lost to how we conduct a civil conversation instead of texting with choppy words pasted with emoticons!

Those who honor their parents have a promise that it will go well with them (Ephesians 6:2). Today's investment in respect and honor means when we are old and feeble - gray haired - God promises that in our own hour of weakness He will take care of us. Even if our parents were cruel and abusive God gives us the grace to forgive them in our hearts (yes, even if they had died) - by releasing the offense to God we honor His word and He in turn honors His promise.