Honoring the Elderly

Most cultures treat older people with respect and deference. People who have already provided years of care to their families and their wider community are seen to deserve the benefits of a comfortable retirement.

However, from a utilitarian perspective, at some point in life, elderly people become a drain on the system when they consume more resources than they provide. As much as we might love Grandma’s apple pie or Granddad’s war stories, why should we value people even when their physical contribution has greatly decreased?

Old Age and the Fall

God originally designed people to live forever. If Adam had never sinned, neither he nor his descendants would have ever experienced the decline in health and physical ability or the increase in sickness often associated with old age. The initial generations after the fall lived for hundreds of years, implying that they aged much slower than we do today.

Even though aging is a function of the fall, a believer dying “old and full of years” is seen as a blessing. Scripture says, “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). In our fallen world, death is an unavoidable reality. But, for believers, death allows us to enter the presence of the Lord to await the resurrection of the dead, and we have been promised resurrection lives in perfect bodies that will never age and die.

Caring for Those Who Cared for Us

Each of us went through a stage of infancy and childhood where we depended completely on our parents. We were not contributing anything; in fact, we added a lot of burden, stress, and sleepless nights! Just as parents care for helpless infants, we should, in turn, care for the elderly when they are no longer as independently capable as they once were.

Both infancy and old age remind us of our dependence on others. Just as an elderly relative depends on us, we will one day likely depend on younger people to help when we are no longer able. In this way, caring for the elderly is obeying the golden rule.

Learning Wisdom from the Elderly

It is an invaluable experience to spend time with believers who have walked with Christ for many decades, being shaped and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite parts of visiting nursing homes for ministry is sitting with elderly people and listening to their stories and life advice. Whether they went through military service, raised large families, or had interesting careers, they often have a wealth of experience and wisdom to share.

It is an invaluable experience to spend time with believers who have walked with Christ for many decades, being shaped and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Service for the Kingdom in Old Age

While 65 is considered the standard retirement age, older Christians have an invaluable role in the body of Christ. Many pastors continue serving well into their golden years, and older Christians serve as examples and role models for younger Christians.

The Example of a Good Death

In our culture, we tend to avoid thinking or talking about death as long as possible, and we keep it out of our minds until it is unavoidable. However, as Christians, we should not fear death because we go directly into the presence of Christ to wait for the resurrection of the dead. While it is not the final resurrected state, that state is free from sin and suffering, so the Apostle Paul could speak of it as being “better by far.”

Everyone should care about how society views elderly people because if we live long enough, we will eventually become them!

Older Christians have invariably experienced the death of friends and loved ones and are more likely to contemplate their own death. In today’s society, assisted suicide, sometimes referred to with the euphemism “death with dignity,” is increasingly promoted. While proponents argue that people with inevitably deadly and painful diseases should be able to end their lives before suffering the debilitating effects of their illnesses, assisted suicide, once legalized, often becomes used for non-deadly and even mental illnesses. In some places, it is seen as a good solution for a depressed person to take their own life via assisted suicide.

People facing terminal illnesses already have a humane, life-honoring option—hospice. In hospice, people can be offered pain relief and other measures to help them be as comfortable as possible and live their last days to the fullest.

Everyone should care about how society views elderly people because if we live long enough, we will eventually become them! Christians should model care for our elders and elderly Christians should be involved in the lives of their younger family members and church congregations.