I Have Been Young and Now Am Old

TEXT:  Psalm 37:25

INTRODUCTION:

A.      A COMMON PROBLEM IS AGE INTOLERANCE.

          1.       We have all been young, some will be old.

          2.       Sometimes the young resent the old and their views and advice.  Wisdom!

          3.       Sometimes the old forget they were once young and foolish.  Zeal & Idealism.

B.      GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER, American Botanist (1864-1943):

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

          compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the

          weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”

I. TO THE OLD - BE TENDER WITH THE YOUNG.

A.      REMEMBER! YOU WERE YOUNG AND IMPULSIVE ONCE.

          1.       You followed the desires of your heart.

          2.       Eccl. 11:9-10. “glory of young men”( Prov. 20:29 ).

B.      REALIZE! THE YOUNG MAKE MISTAKES.

          1.       Children are growing; trying to mature.

          2.       Now those that are old say “...”( Psa. 25:7 ).

          3.       “Children are tyrants. They contradict their parents, they gobble their food,

                             they terrorize their teachers.”( Socrates over 2,000 years ago)

C.      THE OLDER SHOULD SHAPE AND TRAIN THE YOUNG( Psa. 144:12-15 ).

          1.       With compassion and love not disdain and contempt.

          2.       Put history into today’s life applications.  But don't lie or over glamorize.

          3.       Teach your children well( Eph. 6:4;  Titus 2:3-5 ).

                   a.       Abstain from teaching “traditions”( Matt. 15:2-3 ).

                   b.       Continue humbly serving God( Psa. 71:9, 17-18 ).

                   c.       Continue to bear visible fruit( Psa. 92:12-15 ).

                   d.       Remember; young have opinions( Job 32:17-22 ).6-10 ).

II.     TO THE YOUNG, BE COMPASSIONATE WITH THE AGED.

A.      EXPERIENCE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING( Prov. 3:1-4 ).

B.      AGE IS DUE CERTAIN RESPECT( Prov. 20:29 ).

          1.       Old things are  “vintage, classics, seasoned,” old people are just “old folks.”

          2.       Listen to what they have to say( Prov. 23:22 ).

          3.       Elihu's real wisdom( Job 32:4-11 ).

          4.       Don’t scorn wisdom of the aged( Prov. 30:17;  12:15;  15:5;  10:8 ).

          5.       When the old do wrong( 1 Tim. 5:1-2 ).

C.      IF YOU ARE LUCKY AND BLESSED...( Eccl. 12:1-8 ).

III.    TO ALL CHRISTIANS.

A.      BE SYMPATHETIC( Rom. 12:15-16 ).

B.      BE TOLERANT( Rom. 15:1; 1 Cor. 9:22 ).

C.      BE SUPPORTIVE( 1 Thess. 5:14 ), AND LONGSUFFERING.

D.      BE HUMBLE( James 4:10 ).

E.      ENJOY OTHER CHRISTIANS

          1.       One of the pleasures of worship( Psa. 122:1;  Col. 3:12-17 ).

          2.       Quality associations( Rom. 12:9-13 ).

                   a.       Age differences will not limit association.

                   b.       I have heard the old express appreciation for our young people.

                   c.       And our young express appreciation for the elder.

                   d.       One of our strengths has been avoiding even this division

                             ( 1 Cor. 12:25-27 ).

CONCLUSION:

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

          compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the

          weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”