GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY
Titus 2:1-2
A young man bought an expensive diamond engagement ring for the woman he had just asked to marry him. He had invested all the money he could gather, because he wanted to please her. It was a beautiful ring!
Before presenting it to her, he wanted to wrap it. How should he do that? Can you imagine going out to the trash, and finding an old newspaper to wrap it in? No! He would find the finest gift wrap he could get his hands on for such a special gift!
How can we think, when we have most precious gift, we’d present it in a junky wrapper?
If God gave the world His own Son, so we might receive eternal life, shouldn't we be careful to present it in a way that is worthy of such a valuable gift?
God's valuable gift of salvation should come wrapped in an appropriate life--OURS!
Paul instructs Titus to teach God's people how to "wrap such a valuable gift."
ATTRACTIVENESS OF A GODLY LIFESTYLE 2:2-10
SUMMARY EXHORTATION 2:1
"BUT YOU => speak things which agree with sound, healthy teaching”
Teach that which is consistent with sound doctrine.
In contrast to the ungodly, people who hold sound doctrine ought to live godly lives.
Paul applies this exhortation to several specific groups. He shows how this works in every epoch of life, in whatever social level it may be found:
Older, mature men Older, mature women Young women Young men Slaves
[ First he deals with the older, mature men of the church . . . ]
What do you think of when you think about old men?
Do you think of someone who is ornery, cantankerous and stubborn?
Do you think of a bitter, angry person?
Or, do you think of someone who has walked with God for a lifetime?
... someone the years of walking with God has made sweeter?... more teachable?
... more anxious to see God? ... to please Him? ... to be like Him?
There's no particular value in getting old.
Things get old, become wrinkled, dried up, fruitless, bitter, moldy–fit to be disposed of!
Paul encourages godly people to grow old GRACEFULLY,
to preserve their usefulness in others'lives
Ironside's prayer: "Lord, keep me from becoming a bitter old man!"
John Mitchell speaking @ DTS, pouring out Scripture after Scripture
Student asked how he memorized so much Scripture, what memory program he used.
Tears filled his eyes. "Young man, when you spend a lifetime studying God's Word to see what God says to you, you don't have to memorize it." It just becomes part of your life!
Carl Armerding--in late 80s
I was driving him to a speaking engagement one evening, talking about his walk with God. He shared his practice of studying God's Word each day:
1/2 hr in Hebrew O.T. 1/2 hr in Greek N.T
1/2 hr in German 1/2 hr in Spanish
1/2 hr in English (and I think in either French or Latin)
THEN, he began his prayer time with God!
We were present when a building was dedicated in his honor.
Night of dedication, many people spoke of his life, and how he had contributed to theirs.
At the conclusion, Armerding stood to speak. I remember little of what he said, but I'll never forget his response to what they said about him:
"When I get to heaven, I’ll pass your kind words on to the One who really deserves them!"
I remember saying to Helen after he got out of our car,
"It felt like we were riding with the Apostle Paul!"
What a way to go!
That's the way I want to be remembered! --a person who walked with God,
becoming conformed to the image of His Son, as I grow older.
Not stubborn! Not cantankerous! Not bitter!
But one who loves God, and loves His people.
That's description Paul gives of godly older men.
Older men should merit the respect of young people, so they aren't just looked at as "old men" but as mature men who walk with God and have earned our respect.
We often tell young people: "Respect your elders."
They ask, "Why should we?"
Normally we respond: "Because I said so!"
Or, because they’re your elders, and elders deserve our respect."
I hate to disappoint you; but there’s nothing about being old that deserves respect!
We don't deserve respect simply because we've survived a lot of years!
What makes us "worthy of respect?"–MODELING GODLY CHARACTER.
It's when we live as God intends for us to live, when we model godliness, then we give our youth something to respect.
When we live in a way that merits respect, we attract the outside world to our Savior.
Then we motivate young people to imitate what they see in our life.
So what does this message say to younger people?Age is relative.
Everyone is being watched by someone younger!
If you're a 5th or 6th grader, smaller children watch you!
If you're a senior, your underclassmen are watching you.
If you're a college student, high schoolers are watching you.
If you're a young parent, your kids are watching you.
If you're a senior citizen, everyone is watching you!
---Your grandchildren, your kids, younger parents, singles, youth,
– they all want to know: does it work for you?
So here are the standards Paul issues to the old, but they apply to us all!
SIX TRAITS OF MATURE GODLY MEN--"Teach older men to be . . . " 2:2
Lifestyle of a godly, mature man . . .
1. Godly older men should be temperate
We usually relate temperance to drinking--that we should not be drunk!
In a pagan city, you don't have to look real hard to find old men who are drunk!
But godly old men ought to look a lot different than old drunks!
Paul's idea includes that, but it's MUCH more than just that.
Lit., refers to someone who thinks clearly--alert and careful--"clear headed"
It's one who has learned self-control.
1 Thess. 5:6-8 describes someone prepared to face the day of God's wrath.
He knows God's plan and is prepared for it.
–opposite of drunk who is not ready, and never knows what to do.
2. Godly older men should be worthy of respect (NAS = "dignified")
Not "long-faced" --> Knows how to have a good time– but isn't frivolous
Has earned respect
–always seems to know how to act in any circumstance.
–gracious, friendly, --but not the group clown.
3. Godly older men should understand life from God’s perspective
(NAS = "sensible")
"It's not the age, it's the mileage!" –Getting old doesn't guarantee maturity.
Aging should produce maturity/ . . . wisdom.
Godly older men should’ve learned to see from God's perspective.
Godly man I knew used to ask: "What’ll this look like from perspective of eternity?"
Basic idea is DISCERNMENT
Cp. Rom 12:3--not "HYPER-"thinking of yourself
-not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought.
-thinking "just right" about yourself.
-seeing yourself as God sees you!
-able to evaluate things from God's point of view
-not focusing on our circumstances, but on God's plan
-not evaluating people by external appearance, but by the heart
Scripture shows if you have such discernment it will be seen along with four things:
(1) Humility (Rom. 12)
(2) Recognizing the importance of God's grace (Tit. 2:11-12)
(3) Knowing how to pray properly (1 Pet. 4:7)
(4) Not ashamed, timid, or cowardly (2 Tim. 1:7)
Some people consider this a spiritual gift.
Older I get, the more convinced I become that this is a mark of maturity!
–not limited to a few to whom God has given "the gift."
–characteristic of those who walk with God for years and come to maturity.
It's a key quality God asks for in leadership
Paul refers to it 5 times in this letter.
Only characteristic he asks for in every age group.
He asks for it in leadership
He asks for it in older men.
He asks older women to teach it to younger women.
It's the first thing on his list for younger men to develop.
It's critical to godly living.
Ability to know what's really important, and how to focus on it--WE NEED THAT!
4. Godly older men should have a healthy faith
Godly older men should be in good health.
(Have you noticed how many older people read health magazines?)
3 areas of good health--he should be in "good shape" in these 3 areas.
In faith--An older man's doctrinal foundation should be sound.
He should know what he believes and why he believes it.
Not carried away by whatever wind blows his way--not impressed by fads.
He has walked with God long enough to know he can trust God,
even when he can't see what's going on.
5. Godly older men should have a healthy love for others
He should be in "good shape" in his personal relationships.
Shows love, even towards those who don't deserve it.
Opposite of attitudes that often prevail among older people
Godly older men demonstrate opposite of bitter and cantankerous.
6. Godly older men should have a healthy ability to endure hard times –ability to bear up under a heavy load.
In "good shape"--able to "bench press" 1000 lbs. of affliction
Older men should be prepared to endure affliction/persecution/suffering/hard times
Combined with #3, understands that God is at work and we can trust Him!
Having been through battle many times, and experienced God's protection in adversity, we should be prepared to bear up under the load.
That's the list--that's what godly older men OUGHT to look like! That’s all!
HOW ARE WE DOING?
ARE WE READY TO RETIRE YET?
My prayer for myself, always has been, and will continue to be, that I may finish the race well.
I have seen too many run the race for a lifetime, then trip and fall on the final stretch, as they approached the finish line. I pray that God will not allow that to happen to me!
In Tucson, our church had a living example of kind of person Paul’s talking about.
Sports pages were filled with commentary regarding resignation of UA baseball coach.
Not everyone agreed about Jerry's coaching ability.
But 3 editorials describing Jerry as a man, caught my attention
2 articles made reference to Jerry's integrity and his godly character.
My prayer is that we’ll all be that kind of people--that the world will take note of our integrity and our godly character!
I believe there ARE some men like that in our church!
–Men like Ivan French–like David Peffley and Earl Graham!
A world filled with violence, treachery and deception, needs more people with godly character.
We need people who can be held up for the world to see, as people of integrity.
Generation X calls out for authenticity.
They're looking for people who practice what we preach--who live what the preacher says on Sunday!
–Older men who model godliness for young people who are watching!
–My prayer to be that kind of person–to finish well!
That's what Paul is calling for–mature, older men who leave their mark on future generations–because they’re models for young people to follow.
Men who are temperate.
Men who are worthy of respect
Men who are discerning
Men who are in good shape as it relates to their faith
Men who are in good shape in their relationships with others
Men who are in good shape under the pressure of adversity
God's looking for some Harry Ironsides, John Mitchells, Carl Armerdings, Jerry Kindalls,
... maybe some people like YOU!
How are we doing? Any volunteers?
Let's be sure we're on the list! Only God’s Spirit can produce that kind of life!
Mature, godly people walk with God and are pleasing to Him!
Will those who come behind US find us faithful?