Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Find more from Nancy and others on Canon+: https://canonplus.com/tabs/none/pages/nancy-wilson
Join Nancy Wilson each week as she discusses basic christian living habits and practices.
Welcome to the feminine podcast. This is Nancy Wilson. Thanks for joining me today. The topic this week is older women, but it really is for all women, young or old, because if you aren't old yet, you do hope to be someday, right? So Titus 2-3, likewise teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Well, this verse has plenty in it enough to keep us busy for the next few minutes. First, the verse begins with the word likewise, so we should just see what comes before. And that's in verses 1 and 2. We read, you have or must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine, teach the older men to be temperate or the respect self-controlled and sound in faith in love and endurance. The women are to be taught, likewise in the same manner as the men. And what is appropriate to sound doctrine? Pastors must call out specific age groups from time to time and instruct them regarding their common temptations. However, older pastor may be, he must teach the older men and women in his congregation, and the older women can sometimes be a handful. So let's talk about how we older women can be receptive, cooperative, and teachable. Older women can become stubborn and opinionated, even Christian women. Imagine that. Consider the word reverent. Older women are to be reverent in the way they live, not just reverent on Sundays, but in the way they live weekend and week out. How we live who are home alone, how we behave in public should be characterized by reverence, reverent with our family, reverent with strangers, reverent with old friends. Words used to describe or define that word reverent are respectful, dutiful, deferential, virtuous, upright, godly, righteous, chaste, and pure. All these words should characterize the godly Christian woman in her old age. As we gain age, we want to gain wisdom. We don't want to revert to our teen years or our 20s. By the time we're old, we want to have accumulated much wisdom. And we want to apply it to ourselves in how we live. Our lives should be characterized by sobriety, faithfulness, kindness, and a gentle, quiet, teachable spirit. Older women are notorious for gradually losing some of their inhibitions. They call it speaking their mind. Or they justify cutting some corners of propriety because after all they are the old ladies. They might overshare or be bossy or speak before they think. They can lurch into self-centeredness and discontent or overspending and overindulging. These characteristics are not appropriate to sound doctrine, and it is sound doctrine that will keep us steady throughout all our lives. This is why Paul includes pastoral word to Titus. Older women are to be warned against talking too much and drinking too much. Old ladies still need guardrails. Scripture provides those guardrails, and age is no license for starting to loosen up. The two negatives Titus is specifically to mention and is teaching to the older women are one not to talk too much, slander, or lie about others, and two not to drink too much. If older women have extra time on their hands, which is often the case, they are to put it to good use. They are to use it for growing in wisdom, self-control, and piety, and teaching what is good. This does not mean older women in the church are all required to lead book or Bible studies, though it is great if many of them want to do that. More is always required of teachers. They must practice what they teach, and this is good. But teaching can also be on a more informal basis, in other words, wise words always. In Paul's instructions to Timothy about widows, he mentions the kind of widows whom the church can financially support. Over 60 married once, a reputation for good works such as bringing up children, extending hospitality to strangers, service to the saints, helping the afflicted, and serious about all kinds of good works. This is a great calling for all women, whether younger or older, whether married or widowed. Finally, let's consider the wise woman in Proverbs. Proverbs 141. The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. A wise woman is not going to build her house when she's young, and then rip it apart when she's older, either by slander or mismanagement or careless living. Foolish old women can pull their homes down. Proverbs 31, 10-12, who can find a virtuous wife, or her worthest far above rubies? The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Notice she does him good all her life, even into old age. Even after he's passed away, the wise woman will continue to bring her husband good in how she manages his estate, how she blesses their children and grandchildren. She honors his legacy and continues to do him good by her testimony and faithfulness to God. Proverbs 31, verses 15-16, strength and honor are her clothing. She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and honor tongue is the law of kindness. No slander, no foolish talk, rather wisdom and kindness. Why does she rejoice in the time to come? Because she's trusting God with all her future. I've spent lots of time teaching young unmarried women had to have standards when they're dating, when they're engaged, when they're newlyweds. But older women need to apply these same standards when they're widows, or when their husbands are old and infirm. The same kind of standards of wisdom always apply. Don't be too friendly with the older men whether married or unmarried. Have barriers just like you did when you were married, and just like you did before you were married. What kind of standards? Wise, godly ones. Older women are to be growing wiser throughout their lives, even through old age and widowhood. If God has made you a widow, he wants your undivided attention. So give him your full attention. Stay at your post. Don't think that now you can be too talkative or have a little too much to drink, because after all you think you are grown up. Women are vulnerable by nature, so don't trick yourself into thinking you can handle this, or that you don't need standards, because you're beyond that. You're not. Be reverent, be self-controlled. Glorify God in your old age, exercise piety and self-control. If we stay at our post and apply wisdom, old age may still be difficult, but it will be pleasing to God. Thanks so much for joining me today, blessings on your week. Before I go, I want to let you know about my page on Canon Plus. That's where you can find all my audiobooks, audio series, conference talks, and more. Go to mycanonplus.com or click the link in the show notes and have a look around.