Long Life as God's Promised Blessing and Sacred Trust

The fear of Yahweh prolongeth days—long life promised as blessing. We may lawfully wish for one another extended years; this desire is no infirmity. Strong love of life is not necessarily sinful.

Scripture distinctly promises long life as a blessing to God's people in both Old and New Testaments. Life, like health, intellect, and influence, functions as a talenton—a talent lent to us for our Master's service and our own profit. The greater the loan, the larger the profit; the longer it remains in trust, the fuller the results.

Objections arise from Scripture's seemingly contradictory language. Some passages speak of early departure as blessing—true only in special cases. We must distinguish between things good in themselves and things which become so by God's appointment. Another objection: young saints depart while old sinners remain. Yet if we average the lifespan across godly men, the promise holds true. Many exceptions appear only because we know the pious death but not the whole previous life.

What practical bearing has this truth? The Christian may lawfully desire long life as extended time for working and suffering for Christ. This lawful desire provides strongest motive for rightly using life as it passes. Vice tends to shorten men's days; life abused invites judgment. Since life is a talent given to be rightly used, we must employ our years in service to Adonai.