When I’m Sixty-Four

When you read the title of this sermon When I’m Sixty-Four, did you think "when will that be" or did you hear a little clarinet introduction to a Beatles’ tune? There are so many "ages and stages" in life, each with their own challenges and possibilities. In writing to Titus, Paul (in chapter 2) addresses specific "ages" as well as "stages"…

• "older men" (beginning in Titus 2:2)
• "older women" (beginning in Titus 2:3)
• "young women" (Titus 2:4)
• "young men" (Titus 2:6)
• "employees and employers" (Titus 2:9)

God desires that His gospel of salvation regenerate His creation to become a people who live out this "good news". "Doctrine and duty" is a God-willed "cause and effect"…

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Teaching the “whole purpose of God” means:

• The fullness of divine revelation
• The ethics of good theology

"Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance." Titus 2:2

The spiritually mature man needs to be characterized as being…

Temperate – sober, abstaining, not because he ‘can’t’ but because by enjoying freedoms and liberties in moderation, or perhaps even surrendering them, he does not cause others to stumble…
"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1Corinthians 10:23

Dignified – to be devout, serious, honorable, at the root, to worship. The dignified man lives in a way that demonstrates that he lives in light of eternity...
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Sensible – sound in thinking and judgment and self-controlled….
“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity; and clothe yourself with honor and majesty” Job 40:10

These three qualities and ‘paired’ with three commitments… The spiritually mature man is…

• sound in faith (trusting God)
• sound in love (serving others above self)
• sound in perseverance (hope) waiting patiently for the Kingdom to come!

So how does one aspire to the impossible? These characteristics and commitments seem so out of reach! They are if we rely on self, but with God, all things are possible! So how?

Be Teachable
   "A poor, yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction." Ecclesiastes 4:13

Be Observable
   “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works” Titus 2:7

Be Available
   “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34

So to return to Tom’s sermon title, the song asks the question…
   Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four?

But the real question is, who will you be feeding?
   Who will be needing (and benefiting from) your spiritual gifts and example?