WHY GRAY HAIR?
My hair has undergone many changes in my lifetime. When I was a toddler, it was blond (almost white) and curly. As I grew it became dark and thick. Now it is almost white again, but with gray mixed in. Gray hair sets a person apart as being older, something we don’t always want advertised. Why does God make our chair change as a public announcement of our increasing years? How should we be viewing our own increasingly gray hair?
Gray hair reminds us of God’s faithfulness. When you have walked with God for a long time, you can attest to His faithfulness. Trials and difficulties have come and gone, but God has been dependable through it all (Isaiah 46:4). He has promised to be faithful, and when we have gray hair, we can look back and thank Him for His years of faithfulness.
Gray hair pictures God’s blessings. God doesn’t guarantee us a long life, but those who have lived many years can thank God for His many blessings and joys in life. The writer of Proverbs calls gray hair “a crown of splendor” (Proverbs 16:31). It is God’s reward for the godly saint who has been living close to God and His benefits for many years.
Gray hair is a sign of maturity and wisdom. Or at least it should be. Just being alive for many years does not bring maturity and wisdom, but for those who have been following Jesus for a good portion of their life, it does (Proverbs 20:29). Our bodies become weaker as we age, but our minds become wiser and more attuned to what really matters in life.
God uses anyone who is available, no matter their age, education or abilities. Sometimes today the elderly are set aside as not being of as much worth as the young. Not so in God’s sight. God called Abraham when he was 75 years old, and he had a promised son at 100. Sarah gave birth to that son at 90. Moses was 80 when God called him to lead the Jews out of Egypt. Caleb and Joshua were well up in years when God used them to defeat the inhabitants of Canaan so the Jews could settle in their Promised Land. Our roles in the Kingdom may change, but we are far from useless no matter our age. If God has us alive, He has a good reason and purpose for it!
We should always treat those who are elderly with respect because of the lives they have lived for God and their contribution to the Kingdom of God (Leviticus 19:32). Please be patient with them (us), because they (we) can’t do as much as before. It can be humbling for us, but it presents a good opportunity for others to serve those who have paved the way for them. Treat them with unconditional love (Matthew 22:39).
When you see someone with graying hair today, even if you see that person in your mirror, remember God has created gray hair for a reason. It reminds us of His faithfulness over the years. For God’s people, it’s a badge of honor for those who have been loyal to Him in the past. For us who are getting grayer, it’s another way of knowing that our time on this earth is getting shorter and we need to be ready to transition into the next world.
Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”
Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”
What is your attitude to those who are up in years?
How are you adjusting to your getting older?
Think of an elderly person you can contact and encourage today. Do so soon.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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