Maximizing The Leverage Of Our Latter Years

Years ago, I began writing a series of essays I called “Fourth Quarter Strategies.” The premise is that while every stage of our professional life is important, our final quarter should be our best. If we remain healthy, living to age 80 and beyond is a reasonable goal. That would mean the last 20-plus years of our lives could be the most productive of all – because of both expertise and experience.

Some time ago Alan Smith, a staff director for CBMC met with a small group of older Christian business leaders (some of them were retired). He encouraged them to recognize the incredible value they still had for the Lord as well as for younger professionals they interact with in the local marketplace.

Smith offered six Bible verses as “food for thought” that share one thing in common: All are found in the first chapter and third verse in their respective books. We believe this is not coincidental, but by design, to underscore the importance older followers of Christ have for God’s purposes. Here are those verses:

There is no time limit to being fruitful. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

Wisdom is to be passed down through the generations. “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation” (Joel 1:3).

We can serve as examples for others to follow. “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Spiritual growth never ends. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

Our prayers make an eternal impact. “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (2 Timothy 1:3).

Wisdom, understanding and faith are to be shared. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may also have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

As a fellow follower of Christ, I agree with Smith’s perspective on the value of our latter years. Many of us are less encumbered with work demands and more available to serve, teach, mentor and disciple others. God does not want us to sit back and put ourselves on a shelf for our remaining years on earth.

In his letter to the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul succinctly concluded, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). His life gives us a beautiful example of how to live our lives to the very end for the Lord Jesus. I encourage you to join me with the attitude of a distance runner determined to reach the finish line strong, focusing on the prize that lies ahead!

By Jim Langley