our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Mar 11, 2018, 1:07:59 AM3/11/18

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Age-Old Wisdom

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12

In 2010, a newspaper in Singapore published a special report that contained life lessons gleaned from eight senior citizens. It opened with these words: “While aging brings challenges to mind and body, it can also lead to an expansion in other realms. There is an abundance of emotional and social knowledge; qualities which scientists are beginning to define as wisdom . . . the wisdom of elders.”

Indeed, wise older people have much to teach us about life. But in the Bible, we meet a newly crowned king who failed to recognize this.

God's love is meant to be shared.

King Solomon had just died, and in 1 Kings 12:3, we read that “the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam” with a petition. They asked the new king to lighten the harsh labor and heavy taxes his father Solomon had demanded of them. In return, they would loyally serve Rehoboam.

At first the young king consulted the elders (v. 6). But he rejected their advice and accepted the foolish counsel of the young men who had grown up with him (v. 8). He made the burden on the people even greater! His rashness cost him most of his kingdom.

All of us need the counsel that comes with years of experience, especially from those who have walked with God and listened well to His counsel. Think of the accumulated wisdom God has given them! They have much to share with us about the Lord. Let’s seek them out and give a listening ear to their wisdom.

To avoid the mistakes of youth, draw from the wisdom of age.

长者的智慧

年老的有智慧；寿高的有知识。-约伯记12章12节

在2010年，新加坡的报纸刊登了一篇特别报导，集结了八位高龄市民的人生经验。开头写道：“年迈虽然带来心智和身体上的挑战，但却也扩展了生活的其他领域。年长者在情感和社交方面有丰富的知识，还会有连科学家都开始定义为‘智慧’的生命特质……长者的智慧。”

的确，有智慧的长者能教导我们好多人生经验。但在圣经中，我们看见一位刚登基的君王，他并没有意识到这点。

那时，所罗门王刚过世。在列王纪上12章3节，我们读到“以色列会众都来见罗波安”。他们请求这位刚登基的国王，能减轻先前所罗门王加给他们劳役和高税的重担，而他们也将效忠于罗波安。

起初，这位年轻的国王咨询了长者的意见（6节），但他却拒绝了他们的建议，反倒和他一起长大的少年人商议，并接受他们愚蠢的主意（8节），越发加重百姓的重担。他的轻率鲁莽，让他失去了大半的王国。

我们每个人都需要多年经验所累积的建议，特别是来自与上帝同行并听从祂话语的人。试想，长者们累积了多少上帝所赐的智慧！他们能跟我们分享很多关于上帝的事。让我们去咨询他们的意见，并乐意倾听他们的智慧之言吧！

感谢主，因祢将长者和智者放在我的生命中。
求祢帮助我能从他们身上学习，
并留意他们合乎真理的忠告。