“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.” (Proverbs 3:13-16)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Like anybody, I would like to have a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will.” He also said, speaking of long life, “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.” Certainly we can learn from this civil rights icon whose efforts had a positive effect on others that has continued, and will last, changing the lives of many for the better. Unfortunately, his life was short, in our eyes, but the quality of His life made his impact on this earth be characterized by longevity.
The words that he spoke have surely touched us all. Yet, let me change my focus to an unheralded figure that is approaching 80 years of life on this earth. Let’s just call her “Sister V.” Looking at Sister V, I would never have guessed her age. She is still vibrant, sharp, and alert. She still seeks God’s wisdom and does not seek an excuse to miss the assembly of the saints. Until recently, she worked two jobs, while we complain about having to work one job and some rejoice, telling the truth now, that they don’t have to work one job. Sister V may not have silver and gold. If she does, she surely does not flaunt it. But she had gained much wisdom over her years. Her life, it shows that we can never get enough wisdom from above. Sister V enters God’s house with a sense of urgency. When she turns off the street and on to the long driveway that leads to the church parking lot area, you can tell it is her because she seems to turn on two wheels. I don’t know if she is leaning or not, but she is always safe and cautious and concerned for others. She listens to the truth, processes it, and acts on it. Sister V has been blessed with a long life, and let me tell you something else. While young adults and other seniors like myself, we have so many pills that we need one or maybe two of those large pill box containers, Sister V takes one aspirin and one prescribed pill each day. That’s it! She has received long life in her right hand and the riches and honor of having an intimate relationship with the Lord on her left.
The verses above and below, along with Sister V’s exemplified life, should help us as we live out our days. She demonstrates a quality of life that will help other like you and I, Lord willing, live a long life. But one more thing about Sister V, okay? While her children call her Momma and her grandchildren call her Granny, she is like the virtuous woman in Proverbs and I am sure that her children rise up and bless her by following the path that she has traveled on her long journey; a path of righteousness; a path that will lead to hearing the Lord say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant!
Do you long for a long life? Do you want a loving compliment whenever your days are done here, days that are continued for an eternity with the Lord? Well, let the lives of saints like Sister V motivate you and move you today! Be blessed!
“If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King