Articles
Older Men... Older Women
“Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored” (Titus 2:3-5).
There are some wonderful lessons in this section of scripture. First, notice that the older Christians are addressed first, showing that stability and fidelity in a congregation begins with the eldest members. When the older men and women live as good examples, it gives the younger parents models to which they can look. The younger parents can then be examples to their children, as well as the newly weds, who can be role models for the teenagers, and so on down the line. There is so much that rides on the good example of the “older men and women.” Are our elder members living this way? After self-examination, could you hold yourself up to the most dignified standard possible, and be unafraid of taking on a role of leadership and responsibility? Do our younger married couples live excellent lives? Are their marriages stable, their young children well-behaved, their moral decision-making sound? Do our teenagers live in an exemplary manner, so that their friends at school have no doubt about their Godly character? The point is that we should never resent the advice of older, wiser Christians – it is their mandate from God to be role models, to teach, to encourage, to lead by example, to be sound in faith, doctrine, and love. So, the question that must be asked of this congregation: Have we utilized the knowledge of people older and wiser than ourselves? When we have a problem, or are confronted with a difficult question, do we go to our elders, or a man from the church who is known for his understanding of the Scriptures? When we have trouble with our children, do we seek the guidance of older parents who have successfully raised and reared kids of their own? Do those young men who aspire to preach one day approach the older preachers of the congregation? Let us never forget the example of King Rehoboam, who rejected the consultation of the elders and sought the advice of his peers (1 Kings 12:1-11).
