The Blessedness of living a long life!

A Special Christmas Message for Retirees

Outline:
What does God in the Bible says about living longer or getting Old? Reaching Old Age is a great Blessing! WORDS OF WISDOM: What Retirees/Seniors should do?

LIVING LONGER: Blessings of Old Age!

A. Honour and respect.

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and dont despise your mother when she is old." [NLT]

B. Wisdom
Job 12:12- Older people are wise, and long life brings understanding." [NCV] Job 32:7 - I thought, Older people should speak, and those who lived many years should teach wisdom. [NCV]

C. Strength
Psalms 71:9 Do not reject me when I am old; do not leave me when my strength is gone." [NCV]

D. Having Grandchildren
Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crowning of the aged, parents are the pride of their children." [NLT]

Today people usually live 70 to 80 years. (Ps.90:10)

Seventy years are given to us. Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. [NLT] Our lifetime is seventy years or if we are strong, eighty years. But the years are full of hard work and pain. They pass quickly, and then we are gone. [NCV]

Wisdom for the Old!

A. Life is more valuable than material possessions

Matthew 6:25 That is why I tell not to worry about everyday lifewhether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isnt life more than food, and your body more than clothing? [NLT]

B. God is the giver of life

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath if life into the mans nose, and the man became a living person. [NCV]

C. Our lives lies in Gods hands, even the breath we take!

Psalms 66:9 Our lives are in His hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling." [NLT]
Job 12:10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. [NLT]

God determines the length of an individual's life.

REMEMBER: It is not ours to keep!

D. The Bible provides only two acceptable instances of laying down or dedicating one's life:

1. For Christ!
Matt.10:39- If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [NLT]

2. For Others!
1 John 3:16- We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [NLT]

Never for oneself! Never to relieve pain! Never for financial reasons!

E. We are to care for our bodies and honour God with it!
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 Dont you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. [NLT]

Because life on earth is too short, THEREFORE, live each day wisely!
Psalms 90:12 Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise." [NCV]

It is not yet too late!

How do we wisely?

Get right with Our Creator!

Ps. 71:18- Even though I am old and gray, do not leave me, God. I will tell the children about your power; I will tell those who live after me about your might. [NCV]

Why not start getting close to God now?

REMEMBER:

CHRISTMAS is all about God getting close to us through Jesus Christ!

LONG LIVE!
Merry Christmas and God bless you always!