What Ageing Has Taught Me: My Testimony

What Ageing Has Taught Me: My Testimony

Part 3 

Acts 20

KJV

35+ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

As I age this verse of scripture becomes more and more pronounced than before. We have used it to take the Sunday collection which is true and right but its significance can be felt as you age. 

I remember seeing my late mother Agnes Dede Kwawu untie the end of her outer cloth to give her last pesewa to us though we could see she needed it. I’ve seen my dad do a similar thing to my younger sisters. It is now that I can fully grasp the reason and meaning behind these actions. 

As they aged we became the recipients of their last pesewas’; these were of no value or significance to them. They are happy to see us use them to buy toffee and other sweets!. 

To them “ it is more blessed to give than to receive”. They were happier giving to us than taking from us. Those who are fortunate to have their grannies and grandpas alive will testify to this. 

As they age their needs are fewer so they give away what they consider as excess! This is a sign of the mature aged; they give instead of withholding and receiving! 

There is the opposite also the immature aged who is never satisfied with what they have. Their rooms are full of things they do not need but they will not give them away. They continue to ask and receive. When will they learn “ it is more blessed to give than to receive” 

A great lesson ageing should teach us is what Paul wrote and attributed to the Lord. That at a certain age in life, we should be givers rather than receivers! 

Not only should giving be limited to the material but also the spiritual and intellectual! When we are young we receive much knowledge As we age we should give back to others this knowledge! This explains why at retirement some still teach and preach. 

Ageing has taught me to give more than to receive because my needs are fewer. Which confirms what Jesus said 

Acts 20:35 

NIV

[35] In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' ”

Look into your wardrobe, hangers and shoe racks, jewel boxes etc ask yourself do I need these? Are they of any use or value to me? Bless some needy person with them and your reward will be great in heaven!!

Part 4

John Franklin Tamakloe 

(Evangelist)