Tuesday March 8, 2011

What do you remember doing when you were thirty years old. I was living in Rowley, Massachusetts, was married to Cynthia, and had one child. I was in graduate school preparing to become a pastor. I wanted to reach out and minister to married couples primarily. I was in the preparation stage of my life for what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I have made mention in my jlogs (Jim’s log) that God tapped older men and women to become His leaders. But he also used young people to lead as in the case of my reading this morning in II Samuel 5: 4 where we read, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.” I can’t imagine leading a nation at thirty years old. But for David, he sought the lord to guide and direct him in leading his men as well as leading a nation. When I look at leaders who are young from my aged vantage point, I think of lack of wisdom and lack of experience. What I heard my grandma say about how young the doctors were is the same thing I am saying today. Perspective. At thirty I thought people in their fifties and sixties were old. I don’t have that perspective today. Everyone in leadership is becoming so young because of my perspective. It’s not age that determines a good leader but who the leader’s master is.

David was known for being a “man after God’s own heart.” I choose each and every day where my heart is directed. On this journey, whether you are in the thirty group or in the older group, you and I have the opportunity to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). So today on this journey choose wisely.

Yet I