“Then the King answered the people roughly, and rejected

     The advice which the elders had given him, and he spoke

     To them according to the advice of the young men.”   2Kings 12:13-14.

     In the early 1990s, I was the youngest in a body of some men who met together to support each other anytime someone among us had anything to celebrate. We used to hold meetings regularly. I was even made the secretary of the group.

     One day a younger brother of mine came to visit me, on a day that I played host to other members. After the meeting and their departure, my brother asked,

     “My brother, what are you doing among these old men?”

     My replied was, “To acquire the wisdom I require from their various experiences.”

     He had nothing to say again.

     Age should not be a barrier in any relationship. Every age has its value. One value affects the others. One age group needs other age groups in one way or the other. No age group should live in isolation.

     The undoing of King Rehoboam, the immediate successor of his father, King Solomon, was his heeding the counsel of the young men who had grown up with him. His peers were not wiser than he was. The elder knew and understood better than the young men. Those elders whose wise counsel was rejected were those people who reigned with the wisest King Solomon.

    In most cases, age implies wisdom and maturity. Both are needed for optimal results.

     Because King Rehoboam walked in the counsel of his peers, he lost ten of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel.

     Let me now go into age and marriage? Do you know that age is not a factor to over-stress in marriage? Any age group can be married to another age group of the opposite sex as planned by the Lord.

     For example, what was the age of Abraham when he married Haggar as a wife according to the counsel of his wife, Sarah? He was old enough to be her father. Yet, she was able to bring forth a son “as many as the sand of the sea shore”

     Maturity sustained Abraham when he was commanded to send Haggar and her son away from his family. Such a mandatory separation or divorce had claimed many lives, but not Abraham.

    Another interesting example is the re-marriage between Boaz and Ruth, the Moabites. In his discussion with the young woman (Ruth 2:5), Ruth, Boaz addressed her thus, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by to my young women.”   Ruth 2:8.

      Marriage between them were divinely arranged. If not, why did Ruth chose desperately not to run after young men, rich or poor, because she was also a young woman? She settled for an old man capable of being her father.

     Boaz used his maturity to recognize the fact that everyone noticed Ruth as a virtuous young woman. He used the same virtue to cover her from any possible “invasion” from young men, Ruth 2:21-23.

     The result was the birth of a glorious child named Obed.

     A young minister of God in his days was instructed by the Lord to be married to a widow. The elders of his denomination objected on hearing this. They insisted that he was a young man and must be married to a young woman. The words of the elders prevailed.

     The young woman intimidated and harassed the minister until the man purposed to return home to rest in the bossom of the Lord. Do you know that the recommended widow may have the knowledge, experience, understanding and wisdom to handle every challenges that may confront the man of God, ministry and home. The young woman he married became a source of trouble.

     In most cultures, it is seen as a taboo for a wife to be older than the husband. Nothing is wrong with such arrangement. The only problem that may ensure from the woman is her ability to “submit”; if she can do this, all shall be well with her, husband and family.

     Henceforth, do not allow age to impair the plan of God for your life.

Stay blessed and prepared for the coming of the Lord.

NOTE

All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.