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4.17.12

Honor the Elderly

1. A few years ago my elderly mother-in-law passed away.2. She was very ill with a prolonged illness.3. It wasn't but a few hours after her passing that I began to question

whether or not I could have done more for her.

4. My wife, ever so sweet, reassured me that I, in fact, had done a lotfor her mother.

5.To this day that question still bothers me and I wonder.6.J ehovah God cares deeply for us all.7. But there are a few special cases where he gives extra attention.8.The elderly being one of them.9. For some who have advanced in years the term "Elderly" has a

negative connotation.

10.Perhaps feeling that it puts them in a category with those who areweak and helpless.

11.Is that really the case though?12.Elderly simply refers to those later in life.13.How does J ehovah feel about them?14.God's law to Moses promoted respect for the elderly.15.Let's turn to Leviticus 19:32

a . Be fore g ra y ha ir you sho uld rise up , and yo u m ust showc onsid era t ion for the p erson o f an o ld m a n, a nd you m ust b e

in fea r of your Go d . I am Jeho va h.

16.The aged were thus to occupy a position of honor and were to belooked upon as valuable assets.

17.(smile) Does that sound helpless to you?18.Leviticus leaves no doubt that J ehovah holds the elderly in high

regard.

19.Of course, godly people need no legislation to treat older ones withdignity and respect.

20.It is clear that all those who want to honor God must also honor theelderly.

21.What about our Exemplar J esus?22.In Matthew 15:4 he told the hypocritical Pharisees:

a. "Hon or your fathe r a nd your mo ther ".b. For disregarding J ehovah's Word the Pharisees received and

unfavorable judgment from God.

c.J esus said the kingdom of God was taken from them.

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d. Serious consequences right.23.How, though, does the term "Father" and "Mother" relate to the

elderly?

24.Remember how Timothy had a measure of authority over elderlyChristians.

25.Yet he was told not to disparage an older man.26.Turn please with me to 1 Timothy 5:1,2

a . Do no t se ve rely c rit ic ize a n o ld e r m a n. To the c o ntra ry,en t rea t him a s a fathe r, young er me n a s b rothe rs, 2o ld er

w om en a s m o the rs, young er w om en a s siste rs w ith a ll

c ha ste ne ss.

27 .So the same respect and honor that we show our fathers andmothers is the same respect and honor we are to show to the

elderly.

28 .There's one final point worth mentioning:a .

Solomon called old age "the calamitous days".b . Did that mean the old age would be filled with nothing buttrouble and hard times?

c . No. He was referring to unrelenting deterioration of healththat occurs in old age.

29 .Some have been blessed with a measure of good health duringthat time while others, sadly, have not.

30 .Are we able to help the latter ones?31 .J ob 29:12 mentions:

a . Rescuing the afflicted and anyone having no helper.b .J ob 29:15 says: "Eyes I became to the blind one; And feet to

the lame one".

c . Can we fill that role?32 .You younger ones, elderly Christians are often rich in interesting

experiences and eyewitness accounts of outstanding events in the

modern history of J ehovah's congregation.

33 .Get to know them.34 .For all of us, in these critical times J ehovah is examining our hearts to

see if we have enough love of God and neighbor to qualify for life

in his paradise new world.

35 .Please stay awake to these needs. So as not to ever have towonder: Could I have done more?