How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit For God We should never consider ourselves washed up or retired from the service of the Lord.

Introduction A goal for many people in life is a happy retirement... They spend years saving and planning for the time in which they retire They look forward to the free time to do what interests them

Introduction But is the concept of "retirement" applicable to the kingdom of God? We may rightly retire from secular jobs, what about our service in the church? Granted, physical infirmities may sometimes be a hindrance, but is such a valid reason for retiring from the work of the church?

Psalm 92:12-15 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him”.

How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR "ELDERS"... Did God not design the local church to be overseen by elders? Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5-9 Men who were older, capable of teaching and leading the flock? Men who were to serve as overseers and examples of God's flock? - 1 Peter 5:1-4

How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit Yet many male members seem to retire from active service in the church about the same time they retire from secular work! Around age 65, which is rather young compared to others! Just when they might be useful to the Lord, they are retiring! If unqualified to serve, why not spend a few years growing and developing the necessary qualifications (if possible), and then serve? Many young men who want to preach prepare themselves in just a couple of years, why can't older men do the same?

How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR OLDER WOMEN... Who will do what Paul commanded in Titus 2:3-5 To be "teachers of good things", especially to teach the younger women how to love their husbands, love their children, be good wives and homemakers Sadly, many women stop teaching when they reach the age they are commanded to teach! Don't feel qualified to teach? Then prepare yourself! Commit yourselves to study and learning God's word, and in a short time you will be more than prepared!

How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR SERVICE THE ELDERLY CAN PROVIDE... Some examples: Hospitality and benevolence - many elderly are financially secure, able to do what many younger families cannot Edification and evangelism - with so much time on their hands, why not use it to study with others? Even the most infirm can do things like: Send cards, make phone calls

How The Elderly Can Bear Fruit Spend time in prayer and fasting - cf. Luke 2:37; 1 Timothy 5:5 From our text we see what else the elderly can and should do: "To declare the that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" - Psalm 92:15 To proclaim God's strength to the next generation - cf. Psalm 71:17-18 To recount God's mighty works to the next generation - cf. Psalm 78:1-8

Philippians 3:12-15 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you”.

The Elderly Have A Use God can certainly use people of all ages... Who are willing to prepare themselves to be of service to Him Who are willing to present themselves in service to Him We may retire from secular jobs, but not from our service to the Lord!

The Elderly Have A Use Certainly physical infirmities may limit what we can do But only death can stop us from doing what we can! Is the problem really one of physical infirmities, or spiritual laziness? We can't stop the aging process But we can be renewed inwardly daily! - cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16

The Elderly Have A Use Our problem may be related to our youth-oriented culture... Where the wisdom and experience of the elderly is not respected Where our society is too quick to put the elderly "out to pasture" Other cultures reflect the scriptural norm... Where the elderly are revered, their wisdom and experience appreciated

CONCLUSION Where the elderly continue in roles of influence and leadership, even to death I believe the righteous can and should "still bear fruit in old age". I hope that this lesson will encourage the elderly to re-examine their usefulness to the Lord and His church.