Ageing Gracefully – Prof. Stephen Adei

THEME: Outline of Presentation by Prof Stephen Adei

Ageing Gracefully, Bearing Fruit in Old Age Breakfast Meeting at Calvary Baptist Church, 10 am, 25/07/2015

Leadership and Nation Building: Realities, Challenges and the way forward in contemporary Ghana

Verses: Joshua 6:6,11 &12 especially ; 10:6-11 “And now behold I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me (45 years ago); my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give this hill country….. It may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall drive them out as the Lord said”.

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to old age I am he and to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry and will save”

Ps 71:17-18 “O God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and grey hairs, O God do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come”

Ps 2:12a, 14 “The righteous” still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright, he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him”

Ps 37:25 “I have been young and now am old but I have never seen the children of the righteous begging bread”

Believe it or not marriage never became an issue in my life until one year to my marriage. I thought that as a Christian my life is God’s; serve the Lord, love the Lord and at the right time marriage will sort itself out so I was not one of those who were looking for wives and other things; it was not even an issue. I did not marry until I was 27 years.

Georgina Adei

Wife

Background:

Introduction

I was given the topic “Ageing Gracefully”. I changed it into “Ageing Gracefully; Bearing Fruit in Old Age”. This is because for some of us we have already aged and it is a question of managing old age for maximum impact and enjoying of the Lord. To the others it is how to age gracefully.

“Gracefully” has two meanings. Ordinary meaning of ageing well- being in good health, financially alright and hopefully avoiding being containers. The other is spiritually to be growing under the favour of God, abiding in him and his spirit oozing righteousness through you. I take graceful to imply both.

Let me however, emphasize that a faithful Christian can still inherit genetic disposition and suffer physical weakness and limitations in old age or one who managed their finances well can suffer a financial setback in market downturn or incur a heavy financial loss and yet age gracefully in disposition and spirit.

Let’s take me and my wife. She is only 6 months younger, both of us are past mid sixty. She lived better than me, eating well, is more spiritual from my human estimation. Yet she has gone under the surgeon’s knife 6 or 7 times; genetically has

had to battle high blood pressure and diabetics and osteoporosis which resulted in her being in coma after an operation to fix her puma bones, literally confined to bed, wheel chair and walker for 3 years and now manages with a walking stick. Yet she is full of spirit, waving a smile, our prayer house and support, keeping the family together on WhatsApp and on phone reaching out and ministering to many.

I am bouncing, healthy and going everywhere at 67. Yet I loved fatty foods, all the Cs-cheese cake, carrot cake and what have you and for my cook’s discipline my breakfast will be cooked in…

Growing gracefully, bearing fruit in old age therefore should not be interpreted in the spirit of prosperity gospel of no troubles but being more than conquerors in

Tribulation

Distress

Persecution

Famine (poverty)

Nakedness

Danger or

Sword– because of the love of God in Christ Jesus.

With the above caveat, I can now talk about growing older gracefully and bearing fruit in old age.

Growing Gracefully into and During Old Age

Into because while the body ceases to grow and physically deteriorates, like Paul, our Soul and Spirit should continue to grow. Even intellectually we need not peak at 70, 75 or 80 Much of what happens to us in old age however, depends on our preparation: Spiritually Intellectually Financially Socially vocationally If you are not old yet then your next option is to adopt a life style that is: Anchored to Jesus Purpose driven Value based And balanced in the sense of daily- Spiritual growth Intellectual growth Financial growth Social growth Vocational growth and preparation for the next stage.The SU taught us NBNB (No Bible No Breakfast). As we aged we have more time to be in the presence of the Lord. Financially as a minimum, I advocate 10:10:80 and there will be little problem in old age Intellectually “don’t finish school” but keep studying and producing. 3Now with right support I can produce at least 2 books a year. Socially your circle should widen not diminish with old age- with children, grandchildren, neighbours you have more time to minister to, church circles etc. “Twea”- the youth are not your equals!! Preparation for the senior years should start early.

Stages of Life

Life comes in stages, for those who by God’s grace live up to 80 plusChildhood and Youth: 0-20s. These are the foundation years,Young adult :20-40- years of family, professionMature years:40-60 or Yaw BerkoSenior years: 60-80 (life begins at 60)Old age: 80+ Haha!!!The sad part is that often instead of:Seeing 60-80 as important last quarter we think of it literally as “Retirement” or withdrawal.Instead of growing into them, preparing for them (at best apart from pension) it is allowed to land on us unpreparedInstead of bearing fruit in old age we look at it as “consumption” or receiving years.

Bearing Fruit in Old Age

I presumed that I will be talking to people who already consider themselves old or retired and some of who will be saying Stephen it’s all over. It’s too late. First, let me tell you that our God is a God of fresh beginnings. It will surprise you to note that often the greatest achievement in one’s life may be an event on one day or 1 year. In 3 days Esther made her greatest contribution in ….and you and I do not know that day. For example I have a strong feeling that I will become a pastor in my seventies. Second, our God is a God of new beginnings. If you think your past is wasted please don’t give up: Repent Ask and receive forgiveness Consecrate your life And leave the rest to the sanctifying Lord of Grace. The purpose of your being may be to babysit the Charless Wesley, Billy Graham or the next head of state whom you will not live to see blossom except from the balcony of heaven. Third, for those of us who by God’s grace are healthy, probably financially well off, have a name etc. beware lest you fall. Let us give God the glory, consecrate all to Jesus and let him chose to use us or to set us aside but in all for his own glory. Having said that I will like to share some biblical principles in bearing fruit even unto old age “declaring the goodness of the Lord” to the next generation looking unto Jesus as the time of our redemption draweth nearer.

Biblical Principles in Bearing Fruit in Old Age

Into because while the body ceases to grow and physically deteriorates, like Paul, our Soul and Spirit should continue to grow. Even intellI assume that you are born again!! For no other foundation can one lay other than on 4Christ Jesus. If you are not today is your day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2); you can be born again today (John 3:3-8; 14-16) and become a new creature. Sad to say age comes with the hardening not only of the arteries but also the heart. Let the Holy Spirit break your heart of stone and accept Jesus or else you face a worse prospect of Christ-less grave and eternal damnation. Also there are those whose love have grown cold. If much of your Christianity is nostalgic – when we were young. Our testimony must be fresh if we are abiding in Jesus and should be able to sing “he walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow ways…Jesus lives!!” That said, I think the Bible gives us the steps to bear fruit in old age and to continue to grow gracefully till we are called home to heaven.On The Spiritual Front First, we must abide in Christ and the older we are the more that should be. Spending more time in Bible study and prayer Obedience of Jesus must be a lifestyle Second secret is the fear of the Lord- Reverence him, looking to his glory Third, is righteous living Fourth is living Christ and others centred Fifth is, like Anna and Simeon being a pillar in the local church. Sixth mentoring younger believersectually we need not peak at 70, 75 or 80 Much of what happens to us in old age however, depends on our preparation: Spiritually Intellectually Financially Socially vocationally If you are not old yet then your next option is to adopt a life style that is: Anchored to Jesus Purpose driven Value based And balanced in the sense of daily- Spiritual growth Intellectual growth Financial growth Social growth Vocational growth and preparation for the next stage.The SU taught us NBNB (No Bible No Breakfast). As we aged we have more time to be in the presence of the Lord. Financially as a minimum, I advocate 10:10:80 and there will be little problem in old age Intellectually “don’t finish school” but keep studying and producing. 3Now with right support I can produce at least 2 books a year. Socially your circle should widen not diminish with old age- with children, grandchildren, neighbours you have more time to minister to, church circles etc. “Twea”- the youth are not your equals!! Preparation for the senior years should start early.

On the Intellectual and Vocational Front

This is a stage in life you can fill the gaps in your intellectual development which hitherto has been vocational driven. To read spiritual classics, even learn Hebrew and Greek To read good literature or the books you bought for the shelves Learn new skills or trade. Yes!! When I was in Sydney University we had an 80 year old student who graduated But you must also be usefully engaged. My aunt Mrs. Campbell started Immanuel Restoration School at about 70 plus and today she is as exuberant as the kids. 5Offer to teach in a local school or help children in difficulty for free. Be a babysitter and what have you. Of course those who have the capacity serve on boards, give keynote addresses and keep governments on their toes. One of the joys in my old age –God willing from next year June, is the fact that I am looking forward to a stage in life I can work or better serve without pay because of three sources My pension Dividends and Board directorship These will be enough to meet my modest monthly bill of GHS 15000. Don’t be jealous my wife and I together with my household spend an average of GHS 855 on food etc. a month the rest go into other things including contributing a third directly to kingdom business and others’ needs. Don’t let us link working for God to survival. Let us make his service our delight and our wants shall be his care.

Social Front

I think at the social front, if we are healthy is a where we can make the greatest impact to our Nuclear family as grandparents and strangely your own children even the rebellious start finding you as wise. The extended family: most likely you become Abusuapanin or Obaapanin especially if you also have a financial leverage. You can influence them for Christ. Your Church as elder, deacon or deaconess etc. The youth even start inviting you. Learn to love fried rice! And you can invite them. I am enjoying my friends under 40 most. Your neighbourhood For few you can influence the course of national affairs.

Financial Breakthrough

For many, senior years is a time of financial decline. It need not be so. You may discover suddenly an old skill. For ladies cooking or baking; to others starting to earn money from the skills you worked with can become an opening.

In my case I think the golden years are in the future, I have just sold a house to buy 1/20th in probably the first private medical school. I expect dividends to grow with the increases. If GCIHS (Ghana Christian International High School) were for profit it is now a multi-million cedi venture with turnover of at least GHC 8 million. But only last year I insisted they should pay me as Executive Chairman a few thousands of cedis a month and give me a personal assistant.

Profession

Interestingly the first time I become a full time university teacher was after my retirement. I now teach as adjunct because I am too busy not because I am old.

Physical Front

Let me conclude on the physical front. You are not likely to bear fruit fully if you do not take care of yourself physically.

Here finance helps a lot for you need more of food supplements – multivitamins and the like ordinarily with old age and if you want to chill besides water, it is not Fizzy drink but good fresh juice etc.

You must “eat well” “sleep well” etc.

Exercise is most important if you are not fully engaged then walk for 30 minutes a day but all you need is 30 minutes walking or light exercise 3-4 times a week. Don’t take on too much challenge and avoid falls etc.

You must do regular medical check–ups including eye tests, cancer tracing and troublesome prostrate checks for men and osteoporosis for women. Watch kidney though.

Naturally the body becomes weak with age and it needs all the help it can and less stress.

ABOVE all also prepare to meet your God. To the Christian old age must be exciting for it is the last natural stop before seeing Jesus face to face. This HOPE REVIVES.