Some observations as I slowly approach my 50th birthday.  When you are younger you get aches and pains from cool things like sports, or I fell while climbing this mountain, or I wiped out on my jet ski.  Now I wake up with aches and pains from exciting things like, I must have sat on the coach funny, or my pillow gave me a crick in my neck, or I sneezed, or just because I have aches.  As a child you hated when your parents made you take a nap.  Now I would literally pay for a nap.  There are however some advantages that come with age and perhaps the biggest one is wisdom.  Let’s look at the words of Job about wisdom together today. 

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.

Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?

Is not wisdom found among the aged?
    Does not long life bring understanding?

“To God belong wisdom and power;
    counsel and understanding are his.

What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
    those he imprisons cannot be released.

If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

To him belong strength and insight;
    both deceived and deceiver are his.

Job reminds us that God is the source of wisdom but that as we age we tend to acquire more and more of it.  Often we acquire wisdom from mistakes we have made along the journey of life.  We also gain wisdom the more time we spend with the source of wisdom, God.  We all could use more wisdom so while we cannot control how fast we grow old we can control how much time we spend with God.  May we all seek wisdom from the source of wisdom today and each day!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave