Proverbs 20:29,  The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

Paul, the Apostle came to a place in life, by the grace of God, whereby he could say, in all honesty, that he was content in whatsoever state he was in.

He knew that God was at work in his life and he was dedicated to God, he wanted God's will in his life, so therefore whatever state he was in, he was meant to be in that state by God.

God wanted him in that state because it was part of God's work in him.

It was needful for him to be in some very difficult situations and experiences so that God's work in him would not be thwarted.

Do you believe that you are where you are because God is working a work in you?

Are you willing to let God do his work in you the way he chooses to work?

But does that willingness include getting old and grey. Is this a state that in it I must be content?

This proverb reminds us that God has so made life that every stage or state of life has its honor and privilege.

He tells us that there is great benefit in being young but there is also room for blessings and benefits in old age.

He tells us in this proverb that strength is the glory of youth and the grey head is the majestic beauty which nature has given to old men.

Yes, in God's eyes the grey head is beautiful.

God finds beauty in things that we many times find distasteful, doesn't he.

Romans 10:15b,  How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

But God expects that the silver crown pictured here in this proverb is found in the way of righteousness.

God also takes it for granted that the youth in this word picture is consecrated and dedicated to Him. Those are givens.

There is no glory when the strength of youth is found in the way of sin and likewise in old greyed haired, unrighteous men there is no beauty.

These two thoughts are tied together because the beauty of the grey head is most likely found where the strength and the glory of youth have been dedicated to God.

The grey head that is most beautiful came from a strong youth that started serving God early in life.

That is God's expectation. That is God's will.

The young plant, stunted and deformed in its youth will carry its crookedness into maturity.

Psalm 92:13,  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 92:14,  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Psalm 71:17,  O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Psalm 71:18,  Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Every age of man or woman is an age that is planned by God.

It is a way that all must travel and in all of our ways our age must be acknowledged before God so that he will direct our paths as we change from one age to another.

He indeed wants us to act our age, to accept our age and use it for his glory.

He wants to paint a new picture with you in it as your hair grays.

He wants to show you what you can do for him as you age.

There is no time when you become useless to God. He always has a purpose for you regardless of your age.

If this is the case and I believe it to be true, we ought to find out which way God is going with our age and go with him.

We should not fight our age! We should not act like it is not happening.

We should not make believe that somehow we will stay strong and young.

God is making us age and he is making our hair grey and he expects us to be content with what he directs in our lives.

As he says in Proverbs 16:31,  The hoary (grey) head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.