They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, Psalm 92:14
In Psalm 92, the psalmist is filled with praise and thanksgiving to God for His love, faithfulness and justice in all His works (v1-5). God does not give evildoers a free rein but will bring them down eventually (v6-11). On the other hand, He causes the righteous to flourish and makes them fruitful even in old age (vv12-14).
While many Lighters are still young, many of us are already considered as “seniors” or at least “young seniors”. At our age, many of us have a desire to take it easy and are looking to retire. We have worked hard and been involved in exhausting activities all our lives so bearing fruit is not uppermost in our minds. But Psalm 92:14 tells us that part of God’s blessing is to make us fruitful in old age. Old age does not mean becoming useless and unfruitful. No, God wants to bless us with fruitfulness!
To be sure, fruitfulness is not busyness and exhausting activity. It’s not volunteering for every activity or ministry that the church is running. Even if we wanted to be that active, at some point we will slow down and not have the energy for that level of activity. But slowing down does not mean becoming unfruitful. We can continue to be fruitful and God will help us to be fruitful.
What does it mean to be fruitful? In Psalm 92:14, fruitfulness results in God being declared to be upright and righteous (v15). Fruitfulness is a life that testifies of God’s love, faithfulness and justice, i.e., a life that reflects God’s character. Fruitfulness is Christlikeness exhibited in our words, deeds and character. It includes exhibiting Christlike character that glorifies the Lord. It includes being involved in outreach, evangelism and ministries that lead to the needy being blessed, souls being saved, people being discipled and the church being strengthened. It includes recounting God’s works in their lives and how His faithfulness never fails, bringing glory to His name.
So, being fruitful in our old age means continuing to exhibit Christlikeness through our words, deeds and character in our old age, so that the needy continue to be blessed, souls continue to be saved, people continue to be discipled, the church is built up and the Lord is glorified by the way we live. It is fulfilling God’s calling and ministry and exercising our spiritual gifts, albeit not necessarily in a forefront role. For example, you may no longer serve as the leader, but assist, support, encourage, care for and pray for younger and newer leaders. Or you serve a younger person, mentoring him and advising him from what God has taught you and from the invaluable experiences gained in your younger days. In doing so, you bear fruit in and through them.
However, to be fruitful in old age, you must want to remain fruitful, and continue growing in your relationship with God, and being involved with people. He still wants to use you and still wants you to be fruitful in old age. When you continue to grow in your relationship with God, you will bless and inspire others. And He will make your life fruitful and He will be glorified through you, even in old age.
DAILY MEDITATIONS:
Monday: Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Tuesday: John 15:5, 8
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Wednesday: 2 Peter 1:5-8
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday: Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Friday: Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Saturday: Colossians 1:10
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Sunday: 2 Peter 3:18
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV).
By Pastor Yong Tai Tong
