Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty!… Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:10 NLT & 90:12 NKJV)
Psalm 90 tells us that we have 70 years on earth and we should “number our days” if we want a “heart of wisdom.”
I took this literally in 1996. I numbered my days and had 9,108 days left to my 70th birthday.
That day is today! If Psalm 90 is correct, I have reached the eighteenth green. My scorecard has a lot of bogeys and worse. A few birdies and pars.
By this age, I should have a “heart of wisdom.” But how?
The Gospel writer says Jesus, at age 12, was in the temple “asking questions” (Luke 2:46). The story finishes by telling us that Jesus “grew in wisdom.” (Luke 2:52). It would be 18 more years before Jesus considered himself ready for mission.
My own experience was that my 20s were a nervous time, not sure what would happen. Then the 30s was a time of busyness, trying to “make it.” The 40s were peak years, with plenty of energy, combined with some limited experience. At halftime of 45, I tried full-time ministry for six years, thinking I should move from success to significance. It didn’t last.
The 50s are interesting because you can feel “old” around the corner. For pro golfers, time to move to the Champions Tour. For amateur golfers, time to move up a tee or two. For me personally, time to go to regular shafts. In real life, the 50s are when we have figured out who we are and what we can do—and it is either a time of great satisfaction or deep disappointment. I found a wonderful purpose in adjudicating family court, helping families in crisis.
Then came the 60s, for me an awesome decade of discovering the love of God in a new and profound way. All leading up to the big 7-0. I can already tell that I am going to love these 70s.
They passed the test, the test of time. The most essential element of wisdom is time.
George Heard from Alabama was 70 when we met 30 years ago. I was surprised when I saw this holy Sunday school teacher smoking a cigar. He only did so on the golf course. He told me when you get to be 70, you can do whatever you want on the course—improve your lie in the rough, take mulligans, smoke cigars…whatever!
I loved that and vowed to be like George if I made it to 70. On Saturday, my friend Paul Bell brought me a birthday present, a fancy $30 cigar which I gladly smoked (five days early) while cruising around the course.
I discovered that I am a 22-handicap cigar smoker. After choking and smoking for 18 holes, the smoke helped me remember George and many other older and wiser men in my life. They all had a “heart of wisdom.” They are all gone. They all finished well.
They passed the test, the test of time.
The most essential element of wisdom is time. Time to grow old. Time for sorrow and troubles. Time to learn from sages of the past. Time to heal. Time to remember.
So, want some advice from someone who is officially old?
Locate someone at least 20 years older than you to be your mentor. Eat together, play golf together, and listen. Read books and devotionals from people long gone. Lettie Cowman, Oswald Chambers, and E. Stanley Jones are my personal favorites; find yours.
And if you are, like me, one of those older guys, find a younger person who is smart enough to ask a lot of questions. Your 70-plus years have given you a heart of wisdom.
—
Tim Philpot
March 18, 2021
Copyright 2021 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Image by 👀 Mabel Amber 👀, Messianic Mystery Guest from Pixabay