Usefulness

Those that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. Psalm 92:13 & 14

Late one afternoon during our travels in the Bundaberg region of Queensland we came across this old shed in the middle of the sugarcane fields.  It made such an attractive picture in the setting sun that we stopped to snap a memory. 

As I got to thinking about this shed later I mulled over the fact that though it was old and very rustic, it was obviously still useful to the owner who could well have replaced it with a shiny new shed.  If he had done so we would not have stopped to take a photo.  So where did this thought take me?

It is easy for those of us approaching retirement, for some it comes even earlier in life, to begin to feel a bit like a rustic shed and wonder if we will be of continuing use in God's kingdom. This is even more of a question if we have been involved in ministry for some years.  We wonder if there is a place for us in this 'youth-focused' world we live in, and if so, where do we fit? 

One of my favourite scripture passages is the one above.  It has long been my desire to still produce fruit in my old age and obviously that is the expectation of our Father.  To do that we need to be planted in or committed to the house of God....His church.  Even if we are 'rustic' we are still to be useful and even attractive in our rusticity. 

My shed in the cane fields was old, but it had experience and a story or two to tell if it could speak!  Also it was obviously still useful as a shelter or it would have been replaced.  As we grow older we need to remind ourselves that we still have wisdom to share and shelter to offer to those who are on an earlier part of their journey through life.

I think the secret to being useful in old age is to remain available and inviting. Be someone in the body of Christ and in your neighbourhood who is approachable and even attractive, someone who people want to be around.  Then there will be opportunities to offer wisdom and 'shelter' to those who are struggling or questioning in the difficult times of their life.

For those who are still young and vital, remember Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.  He had listened to his teachers in his youth, and then in his old age he offered his wisdom through the book of Proverbs.  Be like Solomon, be ready to seek wisdom from those who've 'been there and done that'.  Learn from their wisdom (which has often been learned from their mistakes), and perhaps you can avoid some pitfalls along the way. 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the encouragement of your word that teaches us that we can always have a place of usefulness in your Kingdom.  Help me fill my place effectively no matter what stage of life I am in.  Amen