There is a promise in the bible, given to young and old alike. The promise is this; those who trust in the Lord will flourish. That’s great news for every believer because it can be easy to think some are blessed more than others or that someone younger can be more useful than someone older. But when God says you will flourish, one thing He means is you will bear fruit. One place we see this promise is in Psalm 92, which reads, “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
In Ecclesiastes we are told that there is a time and season for everything under the sun, everything that happens during a lifetime, living-dying, mourning-dancing, speaking-being silent. And although we experience these opposites at various times, at ALL times God promises that the righteous will flourish! Have there been times in your life when you have felt like you were flourishing? Have there been times in your life when you felt like you weren’t flourishing?
What made the difference?
It could be there were times when your focus was turned away from the Lord and you look back now and only see wasted years. It could be there were times when you felt too young to contribute, so you remained in the background. It may be there are times now when you feel too old to flourish, so you’re not looking for opportunities to serve. But since there is a time for all things and at ALL times God will cause the righteous to flourish, it’s best to look for ways you can flourish and be productive at every stage of life.
2 Timothy 3:14 reads, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Notice how Timothy’s mother and grandmother are both involved with bringing Timothy up in the knowledge of the Lord. As a child Timothy is learning about Jesus, as a mother, Eunice is raising him with the knowledge of God, in her old age his grandmother Lois is still part of the equation, training him in the way he should go. Each is playing their part in their various stages of life. But all of it is necessary and each stage shows us that God is still making the righteous flourish and grow like the cedars of Lebanon.
You may be too young to drive or too old run a marathon – but the Psalmist doesn’t say that flourishing includes either of those activities. What does flourishing look like? “To declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Young and old can all take part in this work. It is the work of the kingdom, and God has promised that even in old age, you will bear fruit, be ever full of sap and green. You are meant to have life so that you can proclaim the goodness of God whether you’re nine or ninety. So find something God has for you to do, then watch Him cause you to flourish and bear fruit!
~ Pastor Mike
