{"id":41,"date":"2003-10-05T20:06:37","date_gmt":"2003-10-06T00:06:37","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T04:00:00","slug":"who-then-is-wise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblearchive.com\/blog\/who-then-is-wise\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Then is Wise?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Donald L. Norbie<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Mrs. Jean Erikson, a famous psychologist and author, is now quite elderly. She was
\ninterviewed recently concerning a book she had written on aging and wisdom.

She was questioned: Can one become wise before he is old? She answered unhesitatingly,
\n“No.” One must have lived life and experienced all of the stages and cycles of
\nlife before one can become truly wise. One can be very knowledgeable in his field while
\nyoung but he cannot be wise as to the significance and application of knowledge until he
\nis older.<\/p>\n

Now what Mrs. Erikson says about wisdom surely accords with Scripture. Age according to
\nScripture is to be respected.<\/p>\n

“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of
\nrighteousness.” (Prov. 16:31, NKJV)<\/p>\n

To come to old age without a moral and spiritual breakdown, to finish the race of life
\nwell, is to be triumphant. It is like winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Youth may have
\nlofty goals and aspirations but time will test character and perseverance. The end of the
\nbattle will show the strength of the man.<\/p>\n

“The glory of young men is their strength,
\nAnd the splendor of old men is their gray head. (Prov. 20:29)<\/p>\n

God early commanded respect for age: “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor
\nthe presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:32). To
\ndishonor age is to dishonor God. In the Decalogue (Ex. 20:12) children are urged to honor
\ntheir parents. They are warned not to despise them in old age when their strength is
\nfailing.<\/p>\n

“Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is
\nold.” (Prov. 23:22)<\/p>\n

Elders were appointed to share with Moses in the leadership of Israel. They were to be
\n‘wise and knowledgeable men” (Deut. 1: 15). This pattern prevailed throughout
\nIsrael’s history. Leadership was to be by wise, older men.<\/p>\n

When Rehoboam needed advice he turned to the elders for help. They counseled gentleness
\nand moderation in dealing with the restlessness of the northern tribes. However, “he
\nrejected the counsel which the elders gave him and consulted the young men” (I Kings
\n12:8). He followed the hard line that the young men advised and divided the kingdom.<\/p>\n

All old men are not wise but wise men are usually older. Because of this Elihu said,
\n“Age should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom” (Job 32:7).
\nRehoboam was a fool to do what he did. He refused to listen to wisdom.<\/p>\n

Older men and women may need exhortation at times by younger men and women, but it is
\nalways to be given with gentleness and respect. Paul cautioned Timothy, “Do not
\nrebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father” (I Tim. 5: 1). Surely this would be
\nwith gentleness and love.<\/p>\n

The synagogues had been led by elders and, as churches were formed, they also were led by
\nelders. When an offering was taken in Antioch for the needy Christians in Jerusalem, it
\nwas sent by the hands of Paul and Barnabas ‘to the elders” (Acts 11:30). These were
\nthe spiritual leaders in the churches.<\/p>\n

When Paul and Barnabas evangelized and established churches in what is called Turkey
\ntoday, they “appointed elders in every church” (Acts 14:23). Under the guidance
\nof the Holy Spirit a plurality of wise, older men were appointed to lead, rather than one
\nman as the “pastor”.<\/p>\n

Paul later spelled out the qualifications for such leadership in I Timothy 3:1-7. The
\nelder is to have high moral standards, competence in leading his own family and a good
\nknowledge of God’s Word. God’s people desperately need such leaders today. <\/p>\n

In the world, euthanasia for the elderly is being currently discussed. The old are often
\nviewed as a human junk yard needing to be cleaned out. God would say to His people that
\nthey should value the elderly for their age, experience and wisdom. Allow them to be
\nactive and useful as long as they have strength and clear minds. They are tremendously
\nvaluable in an assembly of believers.<\/p>\n

When their strength is failing and their minds begin to be forgetful, love and cherish
\nthem. Handle them gently and lovingly as one would a fragile antique, fragrant with
\nmemories of a useful life, beautiful in old age. To do otherwise is to despise the image
\nof God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Donald L. Norbie Mrs. Jean Erikson, a famous psychologist and author, is now quite elderly. 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