Glory

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

GLORY

Prov 20:29

29 The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

NIV

It is a shame youth is wasted on the young. Strength is an overrated quality that seems to be the focus of the young. Certainly both the athletic clubs and the military are in need of strong young men. It does seem that strength and wisdom should be able to coincide within one person, but this saying would indicate the young simply do not have the wisdom of those who have grey hair. But then those with grey hair have lost that youthful strength. Which is best? We think the grey hair wins. But then the young have a greater potential future then grey hair. Why does it take so long to gain wisdom? Why do we have to wait until we are old with grey hair? Does not God bestow wisdom on the young who seek him? Is there a difference between heavenly and earthly wisdom? We know the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. So what point would there be gaining any earthy wisdom. Perhaps the young simply are so entertained with their strength they are not truly seeking the wisdom from God. Once strength has left the body what else is there, but to seek wisdom from God. Yet there are also the same relationship between strength and grey hair in a worldly sense. The great minds of the world are mostly adorned with grey hair. The youth spar for position based on strength. Yet it would seem wisdom also wins over strength. Once we have attained the age of grey hair we need to continue to seek more of the wisdom of God. We cannot sit on our laurels of grey hair, thinking we have arrived. While we have breath we need to continue to do what we can both in the physical and the spiritual. We must continue to grow in our abilities and knowledge of God. All too often the grey haired ones, retire to nothingness. This could be of the thinking that grey hair has earned that right. But it would be wrong thinking. God is not through with us just because we have grey hair. God continues to work out his plan in our lives until he takes us home. Let us not think grey hair gives us any splendor at all, but rather is just a fact of life and while we have life let us continue to live it to the fullest extent for the glory of God. Let the youth use their strength for his glory, let the grey hair use it for his glory. But should not glory in their possession of strength or grey hair, but glory in God.