Caring for the Aging
Written by Alan Berthiaume | Pastor of Adult & Family Ministries
Topic Summary:
Caring for the elderly is not only a command from God, but is beneficial to us and distinctly embodies the kind of practical expression of love that God's people should be known for.
Introduction:
The obligation of parents to care for their children is universally accepted. Countless books, movies, sitcoms, blogs, and podcasts have been created to direct and encourage parents in the support of their children. Yet strangely there is not the same plethora of information when the cycle of care comes full circle. Regardless of the world's relative silence on this issue, we know that the Bible is our source of instruction for all matters of life and godliness. So, what does the Bible have to say about caring for the aging?
Article:
The Bible is clear that the Lord has numbered all our days, from the first to our last. Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Every day we have been allotted is a gift from God and comes with a purpose. Our lives have value and meaning given by God, and that value extends from womb to tomb. In Isaiah 46:3-4, the Lord said to his people, "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save." God's fatherly care for us never wanes as we grow older, and this should serve as the standard for us—to have a similar love and care for all people from their birth to the end of their earthly race.
So, what is God's scripted plan to care for the older generation? The answer: the next generation. God's Word clearly teaches that every generation is to care for the men and women that preceded them. Honoring our fathers and mothers is the fifth commandment and sets the standard that is echoed throughout Scripture to submit to our parents, for this pleases the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-2; Colossians 3:20). Caring for our parents in their later years is the culmination of a life submitted to honoring them. Perhaps one of the greatest ways we can honor them is to care for them when it becomes more difficult for them to care for themselves.
“However, it is important for us to note that caring for the aging is not just a duty given to us by God but also for our good.”
These precious saints have much to teach and offer us in the ways of wisdom. In Scripture, Moses, David, and Job all taught of the value that the older generations have to offer:
Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22
Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. Job 12:12
Since only fools despise wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), it benefits us to seek out the older generation and to humbly learn from them.
As we learn from them, we can also assist them in areas of need. As people grow older, their bodies will meet with some limitations (2 Corinthians 4:16, but that is a space where the body of Christ can step into lovingly caring for our seniors. To do so is to fulfill the heartbeat of the Church – to minister to the marginalized and disadvantaged. The Lord's half-brother wrote in the Epistle of James 1:27, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
“Caring for the aging is a natural and fitting expression of Christianity.”
In fact, the Apostle Paul said that to not provide for the elderly reveals a heart that is completely inconsistent with our faith and is worse than the secular inclinations of unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8). As God's people, the Church, we should graciously attend to the needs of our seniors and display the love of God as we do so.
So, what are ways we can care for the older generations in our lives? First, take every effort to talk with your aging loved ones and come to an agreement as to what level of care you will provide. Including them in the decision-making is another expression of mindfulness toward them. Know up front that your care will likely take several different forms and will change over various stages and years. Perhaps the simplest way to bless seniors is to just stop by regularly for a conversation and a cup of tea. Lots of good ministry happens around an intentional cup of tea. As your support in their life grows, some areas you might discuss are assistance with weekly tasks like grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, and getting from their home to an appointment or meeting. Others may need less-regular assistance but will call upon you for help in filling out taxes or taking the car for an oil change. Perhaps the day will come when an individual in your life will require more support, such as the need for a caregiver, management of medical appointments, or detailed estate planning. Whatever the expression of your care is for an aging friend or family member, approach such service with the heart of Christ, and seek to learn from and honor them as you do so.