Outliving Your Family

2 Samuel 19:33-39

Younger - Older

• There is much focus on the younger, more income, more active

• Ads are aimed at the 25-40 age group

• Ads for elderly – dentures, medications, insurance for nursing homes

• More are living longer – more of life is lived in the post retirement years.

“ElderlyCrossing”

Lonely Nursing Home

How do you view the elderly?

Active, happy, involved

More are living longer

Older is not always better

• Health • This body is not what it used to be

• With age come limitations

• With limitations come frustrations

• Frustration leads to depression

Older is not always better

• Health• Independence

• Elderly cherish their independence most of all

• NEVER take away their independence

• Many fear being a burden on family

Older is not always better

• Health• Independence• Loneliness

• Outliving your family is depressing

• Depression is the #1 problem among the elderly

• Next to the 18-25 age group – elderly most often commit suicide.

Older is not always better

• Health• Independence• Loneliness• Loss of Faith

• Many are treated as useless

• Excluded from activities

• They quit teaching, visiting, working

• Many just drop out of programs and activities

The best is yet to be

• Prosperity • Years ago the elderly were poor

• Many living in poverty

• Elderly = POOR• Today – travel,

motor home

The best is yet to be

• Prosperity• Hard-won Wisdom

• Spanish proverb – “Been there, done that, on my way back home.”

• Every time an elderly person dies, we lose some wisdom, experience, and knowledge.

The best is yet to be

• Prosperity• Hard-won Wisdom• Spiritual Maturity

• The promises of God become more important

• They become more real

• Our faith is tested by time and experiences of life

The best is yet to be

• Prosperity• Hard-won Wisdom• Spiritual Maturity• Time

• Many elderly think – “I don’t much time left.”

• Actually – the elderly have more time than anyone else

• Volunteer – hospital, mission work, church work, charity causes.

Make room for the elderly

• Do not forget the elderly– Youth groups, children’s activities– Many churches now have 39’ers,

Golden Agers, etc.

• Broaden your family– Include an elderly person in your

holiday activities– Take an elderly person out to dinner

Never too old to Grow

• Learn new things– More elderly learning to use email– “Old” does not mean “DEAD”!

• Make new relationships as old ones fade

• Try new things, places, activities

Psalm 92:14-15

• 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,

• 15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Never too old to Grow• Retired man decided to go to

college – get his degree• Friend said, “You will be 70 when

you graduate.”• He answered, “I’m going to be 70

anyway.”• Janet taught a pre-school class

– She needed an assistant– Chose Grace Kinser – elderly

grandmother type

Grow in Faith

• Continue to study, read, listen

• No one has “heard it all before”

• Keep learning and growing

• This is not a time to abandon your faith

All of us have an end coming

Will you be faithful to the end of your life?

Revelation 2:10b

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

All of us have an end coming

Will you be faithful to the end of your life?

2 Timothy 4:6-76For I am already

being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

All of us have an end coming

Will you be faithful to the end of your life?

2 Timothy 4:8Finally, there is laid up

for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.