Articles From Our Bulletins
What’s in an age?
What's in an age? Let's rephrase the question to be more clear: is a young man necessarily devoid (emptied) of wisdom? Is an old man necessarily "convoid" (filled with) wisdom? Let's consider this question: Does being young or old necessarily tell us anything about the person's wisdom?
Job said the following concerning wisdom: "Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. " (Job 12:12-13) According to Job, the older a person is, the more likely it is that they have wisdom and understanding. Wisdom and understand-ing come with personal contemplation of experience and examples and the acceptance of the principles which result. In order to teach, one should humbly desire to be wise, to understand the topic through this contemplation and consideration of the words and actions of others before one makes assertions of cer-tainty. (1 Tim. 1:17; cf. Prov. 5:13) It is important to vigorously consider, test, and apply the words of those with experience and make them our own, keeping the principle of the preacher: "Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks." (Eccl. 10:18) Thus in this way, through listening to the wisdom of the experienced, the young can bene-fit in many ways, laying the foundation for a sound dwelling.
Let us also consider what Job's words imply: God is wiser than all human beings because, for one thing, God is older than human beings since he made them. The one who listens to the wisdom coming from God may be counted wiser than one who does not, regard-less of age. Look at the boldness of the Psalmist who asserts, "I have more understanding than all my teach-ers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I under-stand more than the aged, for I keep your pre-cepts." (Psa. 119:99-100) There may be times when the wisdom of God is not manifested in the wisdom of the experienced. Wisdom which does not proceed from God should be tested for carnality. (cf. Jam. 3:15) Paul's conduct in Corinth was in accordance with heavenly wisdom. (2 Cor. 1:12) This does not mean that we should each say, "I'm not going to listen to others: I perfectly understand God's word." Who could truly say that? Would that saying not be a fruit of carnality?
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign as king. (2 Ki. 22:1) Though young, he listened to wis-dom and sought to keep the precepts of Yahweh. His example is one that young or old benefit from, show-ing his noble parent to be God: "Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! " (Eccl. 10:17) Let us each de-vote ourselves to humility and wisdom.
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" Romans 5:3
In the pictures of the ancient Roman method of threshing grain, one man is always seen stirring up the
sheaves while another rides over them in a crude cart equipped with rollers instead of wheels. Rough bits of iron
were attached to these cylinders to help separate the husks from the grain. This simple cart was called a
“tribulum” from which we get our word “tribulation.”
When great afflictions come, we often think of ourselves as being torn to pieces under the cruel pressures of
adverse circumstances. Remember, no thresher ever used his tribulum for the mere purpose of tearing up the
sheaves but to disclose the precious grain. Likewise, God tries the righteous, but He never puts them under the
pressure of sorrow and disappointment needlessly. Let us be patience in tribulation (Romans 5:3).
