New & Improved vs. Tried & True

Scripture: Job 31-32; Gal. 5-6

Job 32:6-10
This is what Elihu, son of Barakel the Buzite, said:

   “I’m a young man,
   and you are all old and experienced.
That’s why I kept quiet
   and held back from joining the discussion.
I kept thinking, ‘Experience will tell.
   The longer you live, the wiser you become.’
But I see I was wrong—it’s God’s Spirit in a person,
   the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.
The experts have no corner on wisdom;
   getting old doesn’t guarantee good sense.
So I’ve decided to speak up. Listen well!
   I’m going to tell you exactly what I think.

Observations: There’s a corollary to this particular bit of wisdom. Just because someone is young doesn’t make that person right in the face of time-tested wisdom from his or her elders. Can’t rely on someone’s age to determine the validity of their arguement.

Application: Do I want the older doctor who has years of experience, or the younger doctor who has the latest training? Neither. I want the doctor who is good at what he or she does because he or she understands the job and is dedicated to doing it well.

By the same token, I’m not going to give any person the benefit of the doubt based on their age. And I shouldn’t expect any particular treatment based on my age, either.

So what does this mean for my discipleship? It means that I have to pay more attention to the wisdom of the words and not the new and improved or beautifully antiqued package it comes in…

Prayer: God, help me to know wisdom for what it is and not what it appears to be. Amen.