How Old To Serve?

Years ago, my friend and I wore our dress blue uniforms down to the boardwalk. It almost sounds like the start of a cliché, but we did that very thing. While there, we were approached by some young people who asked, "How old do you have to be to join the Marines?" Of course, we told them the right answer, but in the past young men have not always waited that long. A few boys managed to join the armed services in 1942 or '43, when the need was so great that recruiters didn't check too closely, at the age of 12 and 13. We call that too young now and they did then as well.

Good news for the young: in God's service there is no minimum age. Better news for us: there is no mandatory retirement age in God's service and no one is ever too old to sign up. Jesus told the parable of the vineyard workers who came to work in the final hour of the day. The late workers were not turned away and the Master gave to them the full pay. That is good news for those of us who may have spent some time in life following our own path.

Yesterday, a mission man spoke in our Sunday School class. Like me, he was raised in the church but then spent some time following his way in life. I have heard similar stories time and again, and I think all of us are glad to return as the prodigal. We returned to God's service, re-enlisting in a manner of speaking, later in life. Do we get down because we know that our time for service is less than others? There is that temptation, but God did not put that thought in our heads. Each group of workers in the parable Jesus told received full pay. It wasn't just the last hour workers who benefited from the Master's grace.

Any age is just perfect for joining God's service. All of us are issued the same weapon and the same armor in Ephesians 6. No one is too young, none are too old or too used up to help out. All of us take our place in the missions and God issues a special calling to each recruit. What is that calling? Well, some of us fight it and some can't find it right away, but we all will live it as soon as the discovery is made and obedience begins.

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service.
Bucky