Elders

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree ... They shall still bring forth fruit in old age - Psalms 92:12a,14a

Out culture worships youth, but God uses old people!

Moses was 80 when he lead Israel out of Egypt. Paul was called "the aged" when he wrote much of the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth were old when they had John the Baptist, to say nothing of Abraham and Sarah!

I met a husband and wife called to the mission field at age 60.

It's God who gives strength, vision, and drive - don't let anyone count you out because you arn't a spring chicken.

There is a reason why church leaders are called "Elders".

- fritz
^{See also: "Three Score and 10?", August 1, 2010}

Billy Graham - Advice on Getting Older

What advice would you give to people who are aging?

First, accept it as part of God's plan for your life, and thank him every day for the gift of that day.

Old age can be a lonely time ... children scattered, spouse and friends gone ... but God has a reason for keeping us here (even if we don't always understand it), and we need to recover the Bible's understanding of life and longevity as gifts from God—and therefore as something good. Several times the Bible mentions people who died "at a good old age"...

So part of my advice is to learn to be content, and that only comes as we accept each day as a gift from God and commit it into his hands.

- Billy Graham, Christianity Today interview January 2011
^{(Read the whole article here)}