Are you too old and put out to pasture? 2 Chronicles 21-24

2 Chronicles 24:15-16
" Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death. They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to God and His house."

It is hard to grow old.   You get to the point of finally knowing something and finally understanding things in the world and those around you think you are an old man and have nothing left to offer.  Our nation glorifies old age on the one hand and feigns praise by offering "retirement."    They are saying, "Why don't you relax now that you are old," but they are really meaning, "You are old, please move on."   The story of Jehoiada is a great story for us as it shows what happens when an old man wants to serve God, his rulers and his community, until the very end.   Jehoiada was a great example of what the Apostle Paul told Titus, centuries later:

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

Jehoiada simply kept serving ... until a "ripe old age."   You have to love that.    He was fully honored at his death (hence the honored burial site) because he had "done well."   God will assure that those who live out their years in the service of God will have honor until the very end.   Jehoiada is contrasted in this same chapter with the king he served, Joash.   After Jehoiada died, Joash quit serving God and listened to bad counsel.   He would eventually die a lonely death and no one would honor him.  Even though Joash was a king he would not be buried among the kings (2 Chronicles 24:25).  Even thought Jehoiada was not a king (he was a priest) he would be, because of his faithfulness to the end, buried among the kings.   Those who persevere until the end will be honored for that faithfulness.   Despite the circumstances in our lives we need to serve God until then end.  Despite how the world things of those older, we need to serve God until the end.   Everyone may not appreciate the wisdom of the age, but, never-the-less, the aged should still seek to learn and be ready to offer counsel when asked.   As our age grows on we can be a Jehoiada or a Joash.