Aged

 

    Aged could mean many things depending on the context.  It describes time and the uncertainty of a life span.  It can be a testimonial to character in obedience to God.  Being aged is a blessing.  Aged can reference harvest and wisdom through experience and continual in growing.

    Job had a long and exhausting back and forth conversation with four friends.  They seemed to attack his character because he was suffering so much.  They believed that he was a hidden sinner and God was bringing his sin to the surfaced.  They cared, so they wanted him to confess.  The problem is that Job didn't have anything to confess.  Satan was attacking him, not God.

    Eliphaz asked Job questions to basically have Job get out of his own head and realize that there was a world of suffering around him.  How could Job be any more special than anyone else?  What made Job any more wise than anyone else to know what God was doing?  He wanted to know what Job was aware of or understood that he did not.  

    They were older gentlemen.  All of them had gray hair, but the way Job was speaking was like an aged person older than his own father.  Job was searching for hope.  There was still so much mystery about the after life at this point in history.  There was more unknown then than now.  Job was searching for the eternal peace because he thought he was facing death.

    Titus was a kind man that lived a wholesome life.  He was to take what he knew and his wisdom to teach men older than himself how to exercise self-control.  The aged are supposed to be worthy of respect and live wisely.  However, if people are not aware of what they are doing is wrong, then they need to be taught no matter their age.  Once taught it is their responsibility to live faithfully in love and patience.  Titus understood sound doctrine that aged men are to be sober, temperate, faithful, charitable, and patient.

    Paul makes an appeal to Oneimus, Oneimus was a slave owner whose slave ran away.  Paul sent the slave back with a letter to appeal to Christian character to do the right thing.  Paul was not demanding Oneimus to do anything, but requested him to listen in love to an aged man of wisdom.  Paul himself was a prisoner for the name of Jesus.  Wisdom is knowing how to ask instead of demand.

Job 15:7-10, Titus 2:1-2, & Philemon 1:8-9