Temptations Senior Citizens Face Series

former team’s performance. He smiled a gentlemanly smile and said something like, “Well, anything

I would say would probably be construed as criticism, therefore I think it would be wiser for me not

to comment on the loss. I’m sure the coach is going to make adjustments as the season goes on.” No

wonder he’s still respected and loved even though he’s over 90 years old.

C. What about you?

1. Do you find yourself grateful for neighbors who stop by, or friends who call once in a while, for

children who stay in touch?

--Or does it frustrate you that your kids aren’t as attentive as you think they should be.

2. Do you get upset because the preacher is busy and doesn’t stop by as often as you think he should?

3. Do you look for the positive traits of today’s kids, or are you constantly criticizing the younger

generation?

4. Are you thankful for the health you do have or are you continually complaining about what’s not

working?

D. The cure for a critical spirit is to develop a positive attitude

--Look back at Josh. 14:7-9 – “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from

Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but

my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed

the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet

have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the

LORD my God wholeheartedly.’”

1. 45 years before when Moses had sent the spies out ten came back with a pessimistic report.

--They said “compared to them, we look like grasshoppers. They will squash us like bugs!”

2. However Caleb saw great potential.

--In fact Numbers 13:30 says, “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go

up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’”

3. At age 40, Caleb saw all that was positive about God’s plan and at 85, his optimism had not

diminished.

--He maintained a positive outlook and avoided a negative attitude.

II. SPIRITUAL RETIREMENT

A. By spiritual retirement, I mean the temptation to back off from church involvement and spiritual

responsibilities when we get retirement age.”

--One person defied retirement as “half as much money, twice as much husband.”

1. Most career people will retire at some point in their lives.

2. However here is no biblical reason to retire from spiritual duties.

a. Some senior adults step out of ministry as they get older.

--In midlife we often experience an overload of activity, and we look forward to retirement when

we can slow down and relax.

b. Some Christians think, “I’ll back off my weekly responsibilities at church that tie me down so I can

travel and have a lot of free time.”

--They back away saying it’s time for the young people

c. It is understandable that some may need a break or sometimes health reasons cause us to slow

down but we should never stop serving the Lord and His church.

3. The Bible relates that Eli, the High Priest, got complacent in his old age and it caused a whole lot of