Sage Counsel from Seasoned Saints

With an equal amount of sincerity and sarcasm in his voice and a mark-my-words look in his eyes, the gray-haired old man leaned over and said: Lewis, there’s two kinds of people you never want to get stuck in conversation with … one, a successful dieter and two, a new grandparent. Truer words have never been spoken! However, at first, I didn’t really follow, after all, I was barely a teenager. Yet years later, I’ve learned the man’s wisdom, albeit uncouth, was spot on. Inarguably, there are few folks on the planet who so readily hijack a conversation, dominate the dialogue and refuse to discuss anything else, as those who have successfully lost weight, gotten healthy, and those who have just become grandparents. As someone who has lived long enough to have gray hair of my own, numerous times through the years I have silently laughed while enduring these type conversations while also secretly admiring the wisdom in that old man’s word, as they have proven true over and again.

While this sage senior was only about half-serious when he shared that cute and astute assertion, this now long-gone mentor taught his family and friends many truisms and practical life lessons. Some of which still cling with me today. Friends, there are loads of untapped wisdom to be found among America’s older generation and we only hurt ourselves by not leaning on their experience and proven counsel. Those folks who lived through the Great Depression, the 2nd World War and managed to survive (and that quite well) without smartphones and Google, could greatly enrich our lives, if younger Americans would listen. If we only had enough sense to sit still, be quiet, get off our devices and take heed to the warnings and time-tested insight of those who have experienced life and loss at a far greater level than ourselves, our world would be much better off.

I believe this undervalued and unappreciated gift of wisdom is even more needed from mature-minded Christians. Those born-again aged believers who have traveled many miles journeying after Jesus, who have learned what is of true value in this short life, could give godly guidance to a world gone mad. If (again) we were only wise enough to hear and heed what they have to say. These seasoned saints (which is a pastorally polite way of saying older or elderly) have a priceless treasure trove of faith-based wisdom, which, when mingled with a Biblical worldview, can dispense the sound Scriptural counsel our culture so urgently needs. Even though, many Americans don’t want to hear what God thinks and reject what His Word declares, how desperately our society stands in need of longtime veterans of the Cross boldly proclaiming what “thus saith the Lord.” Our families, homes and communities would be much stronger if we rightly valued the sage counsel of seasoned saints! Too readily do younger foolish minds dismiss the thoughts of an older generation as archaic, outdated or absurd. Unfortunately, this dismissive worldly arrogance is aimed even more fully at those who promote traditional values and Christian ethics.

This arrogant behavior reminds me of a major event in Biblical history. In 1st Kings chapter 12 there is the story of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon who became king over Israel. Early in his reign, the young king was faced with a difficult decision that needed to be handled wisely and delicately. However, quite foolishly, Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older more experienced men who had counseled his father, and instead embraced the arrogant advice of his more immature friends. The king’s self-serving pretentious decision, made by ignoring his more seasoned counselors, quite literally split the nation. From that day on, Israel would be divided into two separate kingdoms. One could only imagine the immense difference in not only Jewish history, but world history, if this young leader had not so readily dismissed the wisdom of his aged administration. Countless lives could have been saved and civil war avoided, if only..?

While not every older person can or does give sound counsel, many do. I would even suggest, that normally, mature-minded Christians can be relied upon for beneficial direction when faced with difficult decisions. Proverbs 15:22 states, “Without counsel, plans go awry. But in the multitude of counselors, they are established.” The unspoken, but implied truth the inspired author would have us learn is this: mature people truly seeking to prosper will seek advice about life from serious-minded saints. Or, stated another way, the only counsel someone should ever seek, is godly counsel. Added to that is this truth: without God-given guidance, life quickly goes haywire, but from the lips of numerous Christian counselors, plans are well established.

Yes, “it will feel better when it quits hurting”, as my dad likes to jokingly say. “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”, a valuable lesson I learned from a saintly older lady in North Carolina. “Don’t pull out your big gun unless you have to,” was wise advice given from a retired deputy who was also a devout disciple of Christ. And as Joe Wilson said, “If at all possible, avoid getting stuck in seat beside a successful dieter or new grandparent, else you’ll be sorry!”

All of which could be considered sage counsel. We ought to be thankful for an older generation of men and women who love us, and patiently pour godly counsel in our lives.

If you’re reading this and haven’t quite reached the age where you’re getting senior citizen discounts, or if you haven’t learned the golden years aren’t all that golden, I would highly encourage you to lean upon Biblically-based advice from seasoned saints when faced with important decisions.

It might well bless your life and save your soul.

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