“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree . . . Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age” (Psalm 92:12-14, emphasis added throughout). This scripture shows seniors being active, productive and bearing fruit in the latter years of their lives.

How can seniors share their experiences and bear fruit in old age? Seniors have a lifetime full of stories and lessons, successes and failures, joy and sadness, health and sickness, laughter and tears. They possess a wealth of knowledge and experience to serve their families, communities and the Church.

A righteous example

No doubt, the most important way seniors can bear fruit is by their righteous example. The book of Proverbs states, “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31). By their godly example, seniors can have a powerful influence on younger generations.

Titus wrote about the example senior men should set: “that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience” (Titus 2:1-2). As senior men exemplify these righteous qualities of Christian character, they provide much-needed stability and maturity in their families and in the Church. Senior men should be ready to advise younger men if they come with questions about the spiritual aspects mentioned in this passage as well as questions about family, jobs and finances. 

Titus also wrote about the example of senior women: “The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). Through their righteous example and teaching, senior women provide great strength to their families and the Church. Senior women should be ready to advise younger women if they come with questions about the spiritual aspects mentioned in this passage, as well as questions about family, character and responsibilities. 

Bearing fruit in the family, Church and
community 

In their families, seniors should look for opportunities to fulfill the biblical instruction to teach their children and grandchildren (Deuteronomy 4:9). Through their examples and teachings, seniors can pass on God’s way of life to the younger generations, “showing the generation to come the praises of the Lord . . . and His wonderful works that He has done” (Psalm 78:4). There will also be opportunities to pass on family history, personal stories and lessons of life. Using wisdom and discretion, seniors can bear fruit as they share their experiences and advice on life with their children and grandchildren. 

In the Church, senior men and women can bear fruit as they help with various aspects of services and activities, visiting the sick or homebound, making phone calls, writing cards and e-mails, etc. If some seniors are no longer able to do the physical tasks, they can still serve as mentors for those doing them by sharing their personal experiences when doing those tasks. Even in more advanced years of life, seniors can still bear fruit by following the example of Anna, a widow of great age who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:36-38). 

In their local communities, some seniors also discover ways to bear fruit by doing volunteer work for various community organizations such as hospice, hospitals, senior centers, children’s activities, etc. It is rewarding to serve and give back where you can.

Bearing the most important fruit

The most important fruit seniors should bear is their personal spiritual growth, as they “go on to perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). The Greek word for “perfection” (teleiotes) means maturity, completion or the realization of a goal. Our goal is glorious Sonship in God’s eternal family (Romans 8:21). 

The senior years are a time for deeper meditation and reflection about the meaning and purpose of this physical life. As seniors see the sand in their hourglass running lower, they realize more deeply that physical life is limited, and that their final years should be devoted to completion of “the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). 

Just as fruit ripens and matures just before the harvest, so God’s masterpiece should come to spiritual maturity in these later years of human life. All the qualities of God’s divine nature should come together—love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, kindness, patience, gentleness, self-control, holiness and righteousness. 

As seniors go on toward perfection, they have the opportunity to set a righteous example as they serve and give in their families, communities and the Church. By still bearing fruit in their old age, they can have a good life that is full of meaning and purpose. And as they approach the finish line of their race, they can say with the apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).