SERVING IN EVERY SEASON OF LIFE

Several years ago we were plagued with books concerning the mid-life crisis. Coupled with that were tons of literature on the problems of empty nest syndrome. Now busters and generation Xers have problems no one ever faced before. If we listen to all of this, we conclude there is never a time suitable for serving the Lord; we are too busy trying to solve our immense human problems. The writer of Psalm 20:6-7 quite clearly says his problems are not answered by an increased military presence. Psalm 121:1 makes a less clear statement about answers. The King James Version makes this verse a statement, but the Hebrew presents it as a question. "If I lift up my eyes to the hills, where can I find any help?" The writer goes on to say he relates to the Lord. The hills were the poetic way of describing the cultic, idol-worshipping groups prevalent in the land at the time. The world never has been ready to serve the Lord and never will be ready to do so.

What of the believer then? Is there ever a time when serving the Lord is truly convenient? As Paul writes, there may be, but our sharing of God's Word should not be dependent on it being convenient (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Serving the Lord certainly was not convenient in the jail at Philippi, but that is precisely what Paul and Silas did, with wonderful results (Acts 16). Josiah started serving as a child; David was very effective as a teen; Joseph served in the heart of his working adulthood; an old prophetess named Anna was still serving the Lord (Luke 2:36-38).

One component that enabled me to accept my present ministry with GGF was that Margie and I were empty nesters. We could travel wherever and whenever we were needed. All but one of our children are married and all are on their own. One person asked, "How can you go away and leave all your belongings for long periods of time?" God gave us those belongings and we have always been thankful for what we have. We also know they are only things! The Lord always has the next need taken care of by the time it arises. We believed our years of pastoring local chuches would allow us to contribute something to both pastors and churches.

After years of proclaiming the wonder of being the pastor of "independent churches" and preaching the message of the Grace of God, the Lord laid a burden on my heart to show me there was a basic conflict in those thoughts. If we are members of one body, connected to the same Head, led by the same Spirit, and working in the same world, how can we be independent of one another? The same concept of independence has led us to a maze of organizations that often require duplicate support functions. Those duplications take considerable funding. Having some experience in business as well as ministry made me feel those tasks were a challenge directly to me.

I loved being the pastor of a local church. I loved the church in Prunedale, California. It was not easy to pick up roots and take on those things. Margie and I talked and prayed about it. We looked at all the events that led to the day we had to make a decision and were convinced the Lord had directed them in an affirming way. Here we were, at a time we could be taking life a little easier, undertaking a new and very different ministry.

As the articles for this issue of TRUTH came in, I noticed a gap--the middle years were missing. This editorial is written to address those years. People in their forties, fifties, and sixties have accumulated experience and background to take leadership and provide both direction and caution to the ministries in which they are involved. It is a time when there is a little more freedom because the children are raised and gone. It is a time when two people together can develop new and exciting opportunities for service. It is a time we recognize that our lives and the world around us are both changing. We should be able to recognize the changes and help guide the ship of the church through them with care and wisdom.

I ask again: Is there any time of life that should be exempt from serving the Lord? The answers from the Word of God all say no--emphatically. We have something to ofer the Lord at every stage of our lives.

May God help us see the opportunities and have the courage to face the challenges and the love for Christ to step forth.

Last Updated: 12/20/1999