A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

Hooray for the "hoary-headed!" Sorry, a brief return to KJV language. This means the grey-haired man is the wise man. But before we equate wisdom to everyone with grey hair - and wicked motives to everyone who uses "Just for Men" to get grey out of their hair and beard - maybe we should examine everything in this proverb.

What is the second half of this verse referring to . . . an older person - or a crown of glory? It refers a little to both - but mostly to the crown of glory. There is only one other key passage where this admonition is given in connection with being older. It is found in 1 Peter 5:1-4 - and the admonition here refers to "elders" in the church. Oh, but there is much we can learn from it.

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4

Note that this passage speaks of older me who do the following. First, they are active in the local church - serving at the highest levels of leadership - which means that they also exhibit the highest levels of servanthood to others.

Second, they voluntarily lead a life of giving and serving others - certainly a wise thing to do - and a godly thing to pursue. What do you VOLUNTEER for in working at the church? Where do you serve God and others there? Do they have to beg you to serve - or do you joyfully volunteer - even to clean toilets if that is necessary. This is wisdom on display!

Third, they serve according to God's will - not their own ego. Older men who learn to do this will be a blessing for hundreds of years in God's church - because younger men see powerful men who subdue their ego in preference to God's will. Too many churches have been destroyed because unwise men tried to serve God in the power of their own ego - thus serving the church became all about them and their desires for what THEY wanted the church to become. These men turn more into church "bosses" than churchmen who are servants of God's will first and foremost.

Fourth, they serve the church and others without thought of money. They are selfless men who do not desire salary and benefits - just blessing to God's people.

Fifth, This do this with eagerness - they LOVE serving God and His people. This goes back to serving God joyfully - even chomping at the bit to help in some way . . . or . . . being dragged griping and moaning because you have to sacrifice in some way your own wants to serve others - who honestly - ought to be serving you! Yeah, this way of living is the fool's way. A wise man knows a little serving in this life - means blessing in the next.

Sixth, older, wiser men serve God as examples to the rest of the flock. They don't lord it over those they lead - they lead in such a way that others follow - because they see the example of servanthood in their leaders.

So . . . this is most likely the way this old dude got his horey-headedness - or grey hair. He got it learning to serve God - not himself. He also knows that the one who does this will be rewarded by the "Chief Shepherd" - read Jesus - Who will give him the "crown of glory" when He comes. Not a bad way to be rewarded - but then again - not a bad way to live our lives either!

The fear of the Lord prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.   Proverbs 10:27

Among the things that help people have a long life, my guess is that fearing God is not listed very often, yet that is what we learn today from our proverb of the day.  The fear of the Lord prolongs life is what we are told by Solomon.  This means that we have great respect and honor for God Himself and for His Word.  Therefore this man chooses to obey God and do what His Word says.  If we only looked at this from a medical perspective, it is true.  The Old Testament dietary and cleanliness commands present the healthiest way to live possible.  These laws protected the people of Israel from disease and from a host of illnesses that are related to how people eat.  They also protected them by keeping them from a myriad of bacterial, viral, and commuicable diseases.  They were not just advanced for their day, they were advanced even for our day.  We continue to learn of the wisdom of God through these dietary and public health guidelines.  If one were simply to follow these commands, they would be blessed with a long life.  They would also not have the usual diseases that shorten life for many in today's world.

The opposite is also stated here - that the wicked will have their years shortened.  Again, as was said earlier, there are a number of diseases that an ungodly way of life brings.  Abuses in how one eats, drinks, and lives sexually - will greatly shorten someone's life.  There are also studies that have looked at how a peaceful heart also will lengthen a person's life.  When stress levels are high - all kinds of problems develop both physically and mentally.  Some, who otherwise would have lived long lives, did not because of what excessive stress did to them.  Of all the areas where these truths apply, our choices in sexuality are the clearest ones of all.  When a wicked person ignores God's call to abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in a monogamous, heterosexual marriage, there are multiple problems that develop.  First there are sexually transmitted diseases.  These abound in a sexually promiscuous society.  They shorten lives of millions - and also greatly reduce the quality of a person's life as well.  When we factor in the diseases that are rampant in the homosexual community we see that ignoring God and not fearing and respecting His Word shortens the lives of too many.

Let me close by dispelling a bad attitude some have toward the whole idea of fearing God.  The reason so many do not like this idea is because they treasure their own independence from God.  They do not want to have an all powerful, all wise God who knows the truth and tells us what it is.  But the reason we should fear God is BECAUSE He knows the truth.  When He tells us  something and warns us of adverse consequences - He is right.  These things WILL HAPPEN to us - and will cause untold grief and, in the case of today's proverb, sometimes even early death.

Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Proverbs 3:16

Wisdom has many benefits for the one who chooses to walk in it.  That is what we are told today in Proverbs 3:16.  We are told that God promises by long life and riches and honor to the ones who walk in wisdom. 

First let us look at the promise of long life.  When a man walks in God's wisdom he will walk in peace.  Wisdom counsels us to be made right with God and to cooperate with Him throughout life.  This will calm a man and grant him a longer life.  Reports come back regularly explaining to us that a peaceful, tranquil heart is great for our health.  Stress will kill a man in the end - because stress will release toxins in the body and cause the heart to have to work much harder than it usually does.  Wisdom will also offer us long life because wisdom calls us away from the excesses of the wicked.  Having embraced a life of moderation and temperance, we will be spared much of the difficulty that comes from the varied gluttonies of life. 

We are also told that wisdom will give us riches and honor.  Throughout the book of Proverbs we read tremendous amounts of wisdom in regard to our finances and how we should operate in business.  Having talked with several of the successful businessmen in my own congregation, they have assured me that reading the proverb of the day - and learning to follow the counsel of Scritpure on financial matters will yield wealth.  I'm not talking about the kind of wealth that the health, wealth, and prosperity people tout.  This is the wealth that acrues due to wise management of our money and our lives. 

Wisdom also holds in her hands honor for us.   The word for honor here is "kabod" - which speaks of a weightiness in life.  This speaks of honor given by others as they see how we live.  Wisdom will help us to live an honorable life in the sight of God, which in turn will move the Lord to grant us honor in the sight of others - and most importantly, in His sight. 

Rather than health, riches, and honor due to a "name it, claim it" type of mentality, this passage is truly teaching us something amazing.  Just for the fun of it - I would call this the "learn it, spurn it" mentality.  As God teaches us wisdom - we learn from Him of His ways and paths.  He instructs us in the way that we should go - and that has reference to everything we do and everything we are.  We learn it - in His presence - by His Spirit - as He endeavors to educate us teaching us His Word.  As we embrace His ways - we also learn to "spurn it."  This simply means that the more we learn of wisdom and of God's Word, the more we will spurn the ways of this world, and the ways of our own flesh.  This will help us to truly be blessed in all that we do. 

Before I finish with this proverb, I would like to show a couple of New Testament verses that reiterate this same principle for us - just using slightly different language.  First is what Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."  Here in very simple language is the pursuit of wisdom.  We learn to seek as the first order of business in our daily lives, His kingdom and His righteousness.  Said another way, we seek for His rule and reign over every thought and action, and we have Him determine what is right in every situation.  Truly this is wisdom - and the promise we receive?  He will add all the other things (here refering to food and clothing) to us. 

The second verse is 1 Timothy 4:8, ". . . for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."  Here we see that wisdom will always lead us to live a godly life.  This godliness is profitable here and now, as well as throughout all eternity.  Seeing this, it is my hope for both you and me that we will embrace her - embrace wisdom - and find that in both hands there awaits us great blessing from God.

For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. Proverbs 9:11

I receive health food, supplement, and exercise information on a regular basis.  I do this because I realize that there are benefits to eating and doing the right things for my physical body.  But there are those in the health-conscious world who think that this alone is how to have a long, healthy, happy life.  They are sadly mistaken.

Here in Proverbs 9 we have wisdom personified telling us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom - and that the knowledge of the Holy One is the way to live with understanding in this world.  Immediately after that statement wisdom then tells us that He is the One who can add to our days and give us a long, happy life.  It is wisdom that mattters - and God is the One who can give it to us.

While I do agree that certain health-conscious choices will lengthen our days - none of the sage advice of the health guru's has anything on the revelation of God in the Scripture.  When you look at the Old Testament laws concerning food and cleanliness, you realize that within that system that is nearly 4000 years old is the best way to stay healthy and free from disease.  It is really shocking to some when they realize this.  I mean, these folks didn't even have hand sanitizer! 

God's Word goes far beyond just physical well-being though.  It moves into the area of spiritual well-being.  That involves far more than just sitting on a floor chanting and centering yourself in . . . yourself.  It involves being in a right relationship with God.  It is moving all your temporary, momentary physical health toward what God intended for you in the first place - to know, serve, and love Him.  If we are not doing this - it really doesn't matter how many "pain-free" and "vital" years we live on this earth.  Things WILL go badly for us the moment we die.  So, may God give us wisdom to follow Him . . . in what is best for us physically, and what is best for us spiritually.  That is the way to a long, healthy, wonderful life here on earth - and a life after your days here are ended - that will last throughout all eternity.