Today's Bible Reading: 2 SAMUEL 19:31-20:26, 21:1-22PSALM 7 1 CHRONICLES 20:4-8
2 Samuel 19:32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
For many of us we characterize senior adults as greedy, self-absorbed and set in their ways. It seems that their primary focus is themselves. They had worked hard and cared for others all their lives and now it was time to care for themselves. Their debt to society has been paid and now they will “enjoy” their leisure. For the most part they do what they want when they want with whom they want. They have “retreated’ in their retirement.
But not all “old people” are brass, belligerent and crotchety. There are some who are caring, kind and considerate. They are generous and giving with what they have gained throughout their life. They recognize the source of their sustenance is their sovereign Lord. They understand that their treasure is temporal and rather than “deplete’ it on themselves they decide to disperse it to others. They conclude that if God has graciously given it to them, they should generously give it to others. They resolve that as God has blessed them, they will bless others. They see this as God’s method of economy.
Barzillai was that kind of senior adult. God had blessed him with a great estate. He had worked hard for what he had and could have easily hoarded it for himself and his family. He had it made for retirement. Everything was in place for him to live out his life in the height of luxury. His future was set. He had no worries. He could have easily lived out his life with little or no regard for anyone else. But instead of only investing in himself, he invested in others. His heart was not to hoard, but to help. He was generous rather than greedy. He was willing to use what the Lord had given him to grace others.
David had experienced some dark dismal days. His son, Absalom, had overthrown the kingdom and set himself up as ruler. David was forced to flee Jerusalem and move into hiding for four years. David’s entourage moved from place to place to elude capture. They relied on friends and allies to feed and house them. A civil conflict emerged resulting in many casualties. During one of the skirmishes Absalom was murder. David was devastated and depressed by the loss of his son, but the conflict was over. Now David could return to Jerusalem and reestablish his rightful reign as Israel’s king.
It was just before his return to the royal city that Barzillai offered aid to David’s company. He drew from his own resources to supply what they needed and assist them on their journey. He did this not to get anything, but to give something. He simply did what was right in meeting the need that was before him. He helped them not to gain the favor of the king, but to favor the King. His intentions were selfless and sincere. His sacrifice saved the king and ultimately the kingdom.
David sought to reward him by bringing him to court, but he refused his offer. He asked. “Why should the king repay me with a reward?” He argued that he was already an aged man (Ps 90:10). His faculties were failing him and he didn’t want to be a burden on David or others. He would rather spend his remaining days with his friends and family at his home. A reward was not the motivation for his generosity. He was moved to help them in their distress out of his delight in the Lord. He needed no recompense for what he knew he ought to do. He was serving a higher king by serving King David. His reward was not earthly but heavenly. He would soon receive it. Jesus said, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40). His service was to Him, not them.
Barzillai‘s assistance was based on a lifelong decision to live a life of generosity rather than greed. His humility led to his help. His commitment to the Lord led to his gift. In his later years, he did not retreat into selfishness, but remained selfless. Oh, that his tribe would increase. May we too live a life that loves and helps others. May his example motivate us to live like him in our twilight years.
Today plan what you want to be like tomorrow. Look ahead to what you want to live like when you are 80. Thank the Lord for the story of His selfless servant Barzillai. Ask the Lord to help you to begin now to live like you want to be when you are a senior adult.
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