Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

The words “HOARY HEAD” is the Hebrew śêḇâ (pro. Say-baw’) which means “grayed headed” or “one of old age”. The Bible celebrates not just the older person, but the elder who walks “in the way of righteousness”.

Old age has little to do with the crown of righteousness.

The “Crown of Righteousness” is given to those who live for and love Jesus, even into old age. The Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul lived his life for Jesus to the fullest. As an Elder, he never shirked his Lord, but “kept the faith”. The “Crown of righteousness” is only for those who love the Lord, and look with anticipation to His appearing.

There are many elderly people who pursued wickedness their entire lives, and actually grow old sinning. The Prophet Job asked his friends the same questions we have often asked:

Job 21:7-16 (NKJV) Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power? 8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute. 13 They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’ 16 Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

God allows the wicked many times to live, even into old age, because:

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We do not understand it, but God is in control, and even uses the wicked for His own purpose. We read this at the beginning of this chapter:

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

The wicked that the wicked do in this life often brings its own punishment. God “endures with much patience these vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” (Romans 9:22). No, the wicked elderly are not to be honored. But those who live in the Way of God are to be respected. The Bible says:

Leviticus 19:32 (ESV) You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

Those who live in the Way of God, pursuing righteousness, are to be respected. I heard someone say that “The Pastor knows more of the Bible than I do, but that doesn’t mean he’ll get to heaven any faster than I will”. That’s true. We are saved by Grace. The Bible tells us:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

However, once saved by Grace you become the PROPERTY OF GOD. This is emphasized by the often ignored context of Ephesians 2:8-9.

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The Christian is saved to “walk in the Light, as Christ is in the Light” (1 John 1:7).

You may never know as much as the Pastor, but you are created to walk in good works. “What good works”, you ask? The “good works” God commands you to walk in, to produce as you live out your life to old age. Finish well! It is not the runner in the race who is honored, but the one who finishes the race!

A Christian is not saved by works. But a Christian is commanded to work to the glory of God. The Christian who does so into old age is celebrated and revered.

Isaiah 65:20 (NKJV) … the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.

Many who grow to old age without the Lord in their lives, who lived lives of selfishness and greed, are bitter and miserable. The evil that they have done hardens their hearts. “Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what HIS HANDS HAVE DEALT OUT SHALL BE DONE TO HIM” (Isaiah 3:11, ESV). Every day the wicked lives without Christ, they are:

Romans 2:5-9 (ESV) … STORING UP WRATH FOR YOURSELF ON THE DAY OF WRATH when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS: to those who by PATIENCE IN WELL DOING SEEK FOR GLORY AND HONOR AND IMMORTALITY HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE; but FOR THOSE WHO ARE SELF SEEKING AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH. BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, THERE WILL BE WRATH AND FURY …

In the final analysis there is a judgment of works before a righteous God. Those who were flippant in following the Way of Christ may either be deceiving themselves and are actually under the curse and not saved, or they will be severely rebuked before the King of Glory. The lost, though long lived, will one day stand before the WRATH AND FURY of God.

Those who finish well, those who live to glorify the Lord until He calls them home in old age, are to be celebrated.

Grace in action is the glory of old age.

God demands the elder saint be respected, which explains a particularly difficult section of Scripture. The Bible says that the Prophet Elisha was traveling, when a group of teenage hooligans accost and mock him:

2 Kings 2:23-24 {Elisha} went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

That seems harsh, but in God’s eyes that is right. The elder believer who walks in the way of Christ is honored by God, and should be honored by the younger.

Control Your Temper

Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

I have heard it said “It is easier to subdue an enemy without when you have no enemy within”. Alexander the Great conquered the world, but because of anger killed his best friend and confidant Clytus. When anger seizes a person, it often runs away from reason. The Bible says that one of the characteristics of our God is:

Psalm 103:8 (KJV) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (see also Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3)

In his book “The Art of War”, (required reading in military academies) the Chinese military General Sun Tzu wrote:

“Anger may in time change to gladness … but a Kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being”

Anger is fleeting, and can lead to foolish decisions and silly actions.

There are only three times Jesus showed anger when He walked this earth.

1. Jesus showed anger at compassion-less religion. In Mark Chapter 3 Jesus was worshiping in the Synagogue of Capernaum. There was a man with a withered hand worshiping there that day. The Scribes and Pharisees “watched Jesus to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so they could accuse Him” (Mark 3:2). Jesus asked them,

Mark 3:4 (KJV) … Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?

They refused to answer Jesus. The Bible says:

Mark 3:5 (KJV) … {Jesus} looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus was angry with them, but did not attack them – but did good. They went off and plotted to kill Him. But Jesus controlled His anger – it did not control Him.

2. Jesus showed anger when people restricted the children from Him. In Mark chapter 10 people brought their children to Jesus, but His disciples refused them access. The Bible says:

Mark 10:14 (KJV) … when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

The words “he was much displeased” is the Greek aganakteō (pro. ag-an-ak-teh’-o) which means “to be indignant, greatly afflicted”. Jesus was “hot under the collar”. What did He do? He didn’t attack the disciples, but used this as a teachable moment. The Kingdom of Heaven is populated by those who love Jesus and want to be near Him with child like faith.

Jesus corrected the situation, He did not curse it!

3. Jesus was angry when His people seek profit from pilgrims rather than share the Gospel. This happened twice: once at the beginning of His earthly ministry (John 2), and once at the end just before He was crucified (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 21). When Jesus entered the Temple at the Court of the Gentiles, the only space non-Jewish people were allowed to enter. Jesus saw the moneychangers profiting from the pilgrims, He formed a whip out of cords, and lashed out at the vendors, driving away all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, saying:

Matthew 21:13 (NIV) “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

Jesus treated the sellers as thieves or robbers, quoting scripture from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. Jesus used the minimum force necessary to run the thieves out of God’s buildings. Jesus did not want God’s facilities used in a way that limited the Gospel or His glory.

When the Gospel of God is misrepresented, the Glory of God is diminished. Jesus hated that!

We all get angry at times, but anger must not control us, but be controlled. The Bible says:

Ephesians 4:26-27 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

The devil can inhabit our lives when we allow anger to control us. We must always remember that – no matter what – let God take vengeance. The Bible says:

Romans 12:17-21 (KJV) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. [19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Evil will overcome us if we allow our anger to control us. Trust God, for …

God Is In Control

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

In the Old Testament, people often made decisions by “casting lots”. This was like casting a die, or drawing straws and the short straw lost! When Jonah fled from God’s command and got on a ship headed toward Tarshish, a storm was sent by the Lord to toss the ship about. The sailors said:

Jonah 1:7 “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

God controls the outcome of the cast lot. He used this event to mark Jonah as a rebel, to get him cast off of the ship so He could get Jonah to Nineveh. You cannot outrun God!

My Commentary notes:

“ what human beings call “luck” is merely the sum of all the factors we cannot see or control. No dice roll, or casting of lots, ever takes God by surprise. Some things do happen “by chance,” from the human perspective, as even Jesus noted (Luke 10:31). That does not mean they are arbitrary or random from God’s point of view. Even those things we perceive as determined by chance are in the Lord’s control (Psalm 16:5). This proverb points out that even those things we think of as “pure chance” are still under God’s sovereign control.”

There is no such thing as “luck”. God controls all outcomes. In the Old Testament, the “lot was cast”:

1. To organize the service in the temple (1 Chronicles 24:5,31; 25:8)

2. To reveal the truth (1 Samuel 14:41)

3. To trace offenders (Joshua 7:16)

4. To stop disputes (Proverbs 18:18)

5. To divide Canaan among the tribes (Numbers 26:55)

The Christian does not cast lots, for we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; John 14:17). Further, we have the completed canon of Scripture that we can refer to to determine right and wrong.

The Holy Spirit acts in conjunction with the Holy Scripture to guide the believer in life (John 16:13).

The Bible says:

2 Peter 1:19 (ESV) … we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts

The Bible is “a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:105). “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6). The Bridges Commentary notes:

“ The falling of a hair or a sparrow is directed, no less than the birth and death of Princes, or the revolutions of empires. (Matthew 10:29, 30) Everything is a wheel of Providence. Who directed the Ishmaelites on their journey to Egypt at the very moment, that Joseph was cast into the pit? Who guided Pharaoh’s daughter to the stream, just when the ark, with its precious deposit, was committed to the waters? (Exodus 2:3-5). What gave Ahasuerus a sleepless night, that he might be amused with the records of his kingdom? (Esther 6:1) Who prepared the whale at the very time and place, that Jonah’s lot was cast? (Jonah 1:17) Who can fail to see the hand of God, most wonderful in the most apparently casual contingencies, overruling all second causes to fulfill his will, while they work their own? ‘When kingdoms are tossed up and down like a tennis-ball (Isaiah 22:18); not one event can fly out of the bounds of his Providence. The smallest are not below it. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without it. Not a hair, but it is numbered by it.”

God is always in control!

Is Your Inside Out?

I have known those who profess Christ as Savior who are on anxiety medications – some on three or four types for nervous disorders. This isn’t sinful, I don’t believe, and mental illness is a reality that sometimes needs medical intervention. BUT many of those who are so afflicted need to learn of Christ, to realize that God is in control. There are two ancient words I want to leave you with:

Orthodoxy
Orthopraxy

Orthodoxy refers to “correct belief, based upon the clear teaching of Scripture”. What you believe is fine, but you must put it into practice. That’s what Orthopraxy is – “the outward action of faith based on the inward belief of faith”. One should lead to the other.

Orthodoxy is inward belief. Orthopraxy is outward expression of your faith in your daily life. The Bible demands that we have both of these things.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, “Take MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN FROM ME, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS”. If you believe in Jesus, surrender your life to Jesus. Learn all you can about Jesus and the Word of God, and “YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS”. God said in …

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

To know the Way, the Path of the Almighty, is fine. But to NOT WALK THE PATH will not bring “rest for your souls”. The Apostle wrote:

1 John 2:6 (ESV) whoever says he abides in {Jesus Christ} ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

What is believed inward is only effective if it is acted on. You must “WALK IN THE SAME WAY JESUS WALKED”. Jesus said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and NOT DO WHAT I TELL YOU?” (Luke 6:46).

To be blessed, your INSIDE must be OUTSIDE. We are to follow in Christ’s steps (1 Peter 2:21-23). We are to obey Him above all else (Hebrews 5:9). We are to keep His commandments OPENLY, or else we do not enjoy His Presence (John 15:10-14). In short, our INSIDE (Orthodoxy) must be OUTSIDE (Orthopraxy).

May God touch your hearts with His Word.