"Fat and Fresh They Will Continue to Be"

Calling attention to the fruitfulness of elderly servants of Jehovah, the psalmist sang: "The righteous himself will blossom forth as a palm tree does; as a cedar in Lebanon does, he will grow bib.  They will  still keep on thriving during gray-headedness fat and fresh they will continue to be." -Psalm 92:12, 14.

How can you retain your spiritual vigor despite advancing years?  the secret of the palm tree's perennial beauty lies in an unfailing source of fresh water. Likewise, you can draw sustenance from the waters of Bible truth by your study of God's Word and by association  with is organization.  (Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 17:7, 8)  Your spiritual  vitality makes you a precious asset to fellow believers.  Consider how this proved true in the case of elderly High Priest Jehoiada.

Jehoiada was probably over a hundred years old when ambitious Queen Athaliah seized control of Judah by murdering her own grandchildren. What could elderly Jehoiada do?   For six years he and his wife hid the only surviving royal heir, Johoash, in the temple.  Then, in a dramatic move, Jehoiada proclaimed seven-year-old Jehoash king and had Athaliah executed. - 2 Chronicles  22:10-12; 23:1-3, 15, 21.

As the king's guardian, Jehoiada used his influence to promote true worship.  He "concluded a covenant between himself an dll the people and the king that they would continue as the people of Jehovah."  At Jehoiada's orders, the people tore down the house of the false god Baal and removed its altars, images, and priest.  It was also under Jehoiada's guidance that Jehoash restored  temple services and carried out much-needed temple repair work.  "Jehoash continued doing what was right in Jehovah's eyes all days of his that  Jehoiada the priest instructed him." (2 Chronicles 23:11, 16-19; 24:11-14' 2 Kings 12:2)  When he died at the age of 130, Jehoiada was given the exceptional honor of burial with the kings because "he had done good in Israel and with the true God and His house." -2 Chronicles 24:15, 16. 

Perhaps poor health or other circumstances limit what you can do to promote true worship. Even if that is so, it is within your power to 'do good with the true God and his house.'  You can display zeal for Jehovah's spiritual house by attending and participating in congregation meetings and by sharing in the field ministry whenever possible. Your ready acceptance of the Bible's counsel and your loyal support for "the faithful and discreet slave" and the congregation will have a strengthening effect on the Christian brotherhood.  (Matthew 24:45-47)  You can also incite fellow worshipers  "to love and fine works." (Hebrews 10:24, 25; Philemon 8, 9) And you will be a blessing to others if you act in harmony with the apostle Paul's counsel:  "Let the aged men be moderate in habits, serious, sound in mind, healthy [vigorous," An American Translation] in faith, in love, in endurance. Likewise let the aged women be reverent in behavior, not slanderous, neither enslaved to a lot of wine, teacher of what is good." -Titus 2:2-4. 

Have you served as a congregation elder for many years? "Use the wisdom that comes with advancing years unselfishly," is the advice of one longtime  congregation elder.  "Delegate responsibility, and share your experience with others who have a willing spirit . . .See the potential in others. Develop and nurture it. Build for the future. " (Deuteronomy 3:27:28)  Your genuine interest in the ever-expanding Kingdom work will result in many blessings for others in our Christian brotherhood.  

Next time: How They Remained Healthy in Faith

From the Watchtower magazine, 2004