Productive Decades 2.11.24
Jerry Beebe

 

If you’re over 60 I have some great news for you!  So often the older we get the more tempted we are to think we are past our prime.  I know that as I near retirement, I’ve become more reflective and tend to think about the past decades of life and ministry as my best.  But you know something – that’s really not true.   According to a study by the New England Journal of Medicine, the most productive decade in human life is between 60 and 70 years old.    Yes, you read that correctly.  That should be encouraging to us baby-boomers as our hair gets grayer and our energy seems to wane.

Here’s more good news!   The study also showed that the second most productive decade of ones life is between the ages of 70 and 80 with the third most productive from 50 to 60 years old.   Interesting, isn’t it?

The average age of the CEO’s of the top Fortune 500 companies is 62 and the average age of the pastors of the 100 largest churches in the U.S. is 71.   Even in the Bible we often fail to realize that Moses was 80 and Aaron 83 when they approached Pharaoh.   Job tell us, “wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days (12:12) and Proverbs declares that gray hair is a crown of glory!

These are powerful statistics that tell us that no matter what our chronological age – we can be used of God and productive for His Kingdom.  If you are between 60 and 80 your best days may truly be ahead of you!   Think about that and ask the Lord to help you in this season of life to produce meaningful accomplishments that can leave a lasting positive legacy.