Is long life a blessing?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
R

Rachel20

Senior Member
#1
May 7, 2013
1,639
105
63
#1
The Bible mentions many times that long life as a blessing. [Ephesians 6:1-3, Proverbs 3:16]

Seeing people suffer in their old age and lose their health and prime abilities makes me wonder if a prolonged stay on earth is really a blessing.

I feel so much for older people, especially those who are alone. Having many conversations with some of them, I discovered many of them actually start wishing for death.

So I just wanted to know what do other Christians feel about this. Do you want to live long?

Do you see it as a blessing?

Your thoughts? :)


PS - The Bible also has many verses where people lament the long life of the wicked. Isaiah 57:1-2 talks about how righteous men are taken away from calamity, even as they perish.
 
S

Shouryu

Guest
#2
#2
Paul says in Philippians that death is gain to him, yet he continues to live to serve Christ. Lord knows most of the time I feel like He could take me now, and I'd be fine with it, knowing that this world has nothing more than pain and turmoil awaiting me in the years to come.

But that's not His plan. So we live on, according to His will. *shrug*

He is God. We are not.
 
Tinkerbell725

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
#3
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#3
All good things are blessings. The things that we think of as bad things are just blessings in disguise. God's ways are much better and higher than our ways. We should just put our full trust in Him even if it seems nothing makes sense. Old age is obviously a blessing and an honor to continue to serve God and live for His purposes. Joy and sorrow are all part of life.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#4
Aug 13, 2014
26,748
8,979
113
#4
Whether a long life is a blessing depends on what you are doing with it. A long life spent doing things that ultimately don't matter would be more of a curse.
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#5
#5
It depends on your health and I agree with those who say a long life in service to The Lord is a blessing. Quality of life not longevity. To me, a happy retirement means more time to do the things I want to do - that would be getting closer to God.
 
R

Rachel20

Senior Member
#6
May 7, 2013
1,639
105
63
#6
Thanks for the responses. I feel the same way as many of you.

Sometimes I've had discussions with a few people on euthanasia and I always have mixed feelings towards it all.

If someone in their old age is suffering a lot - whether allowing them to die with "dignity" is a solution that can be condoned by Christians.

Of course this doesn't tie in with my original question on the thread... but it's just something that has been brought to my mind recently.

The movie "Me before you" with Emilia Clarke has just recently been released and a lot of the plot revolves around Dignitas - and the decision to end life.

All this is a very grey area and I myself, have quite convoluted feelings on this all.



Once again, thanks for responses.

GBU
 
S

sassylady

Guest
#7
#7
I'm 60 and the difference physically in the past even 10 years makes me think no way, I do not want to live to be very old. And there's really nothing here I care to live for except to get my kids finished with school and on their way.
 
M

Messy

Banned
#8
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#8
Good book on the subject:

The Five Silent Years of Corrie Ten Boom

Reviews

Pam Roswell Moore had her doubts when she interviewed to be companion of the much-loved author Corrie ten Boom. Corrie's best-selling book The Hiding Place, which recounted how she and her family had hidden Jews during World War II in Holland until their betrayal and arrest by the Nazis, had launched for Corrie a worldwide ministry of travel and speaking. Awed by the spiritual challenge this companionship posed, Pam wondered how she could keep up with the energetic 83-year-old. But God knit a strong bond between the young Englishwoman and the remarkable Dutch evangelist. Then Corrie suffered a stroke. Hospitalization followed; physical therapy; then long, loving hours at home. Corrie regained a little mobility for a time -- until the next strokes hit. She never regained her speech. But the ministry that had touched millions continued as Corrie communicated through her eyes, through elaborate guessing games with those around her, through silent intercession for people God brought to mind. For those five silent years of imprisonment, Corrie's spiritual depth offered mute testimony to her ongoing trust in her heavenly Father. The details of these years will move all who loved Corrie ten Boom. They will encourage those involved with the elderly or handicapped -- and those who are themselves bedridden -- that God is at work mysteriously in and through even the most incapacitated. This book attests to the truth Corrie loved so dearly: that, in spite of everything else, Jesus is always Victor.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#9
Jan 24, 2011
11,786
2,956
113
#9
I will admit on bad pain days, I have wondered if I would like to go home to God, sooner than later. But I do love this life God has given us, and I want more than anything in the world, to see my grandchildren grow up. I want to continue to babysit them, even if hubby has to do most of the work. (Hey! I read stories really well - that's my gift!) And share the love of Jesus with them, because their parents don't seem to be doing the job!

Right now in Canada, our parliament has been writing new legislation to allow assisted "dying." I call it assisted suicide. The plan was to make it totally open, so even a depressed teenager could asked to be killed. Fortunately a lot of Christians stood against it. You have to be terminally ill to die, is what finally passed.

As someone who worked in long term care, I found the better answer to be palliative care for the dying. There isn't enough funding to do it properly in Canada, but that money will now be channeled into ways and means to kill people.

I find the whole concept shocking. In the Netherlands and Belgium, where they have had this a long time, the nurses just kill patients they don't think should live. No requests from the patient or family and no doctors. The number of people dying has increased tremendously in those countries. That is the slippery slope!

When my father was actively dying, the doctor tried to kill him with meds. My sister and I wouldn't allow it, so she took herself off the case. We got an actual palliative care doctor, who was very helpful and reassuring. I was there daily for my dad for 5 months. During that time my husband and I led him to the Lord.

Then what happens to doctors, nurses and institutions who will not do the killing, because of conscience or ethics? Do they get put in jail, or fired? Do the institutions lose their funding? It's almost worse than abortion! At least those doctors want to do the abortions. But to be in a geriatric ward, and get told you have to kill people when you signed up for medicine to save lives and help people is pretty appalling!

Wait, this isn't about assisted suicide? Sorry for the rant! As a disabled old person, I worry that they will kill me at some point when the meds don't work and I am whining about the pain. So that is my excuse as to why I brought it up!
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#10
Aug 2, 2009
24,641
4,300
113
#10
If my life continues the way it is... a long life would be a cruel joke. But I'd probably end it before it got too long anyway.
 
M

Messy

Banned
#13
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#13
Angela53510 said:
I will admit on bad pain days, I have wondered if I would like to go home to God, sooner than later. But I do love this life God has given us, and I want more than anything in the world, to see my grandchildren grow up. I want to continue to babysit them, even if hubby has to do most of the work. (Hey! I read stories really well - that's my gift!) And share the love of Jesus with them, because their parents don't seem to be doing the job!

Right now in Canada, our parliament has been writing new legislation to allow assisted "dying." I call it assisted suicide. The plan was to make it totally open, so even a depressed teenager could asked to be killed. Fortunately a lot of Christians stood against it. You have to be terminally ill to die, is what finally passed.

As someone who worked in long term care, I found the better answer to be palliative care for the dying. There isn't enough funding to do it properly in Canada, but that money will now be channeled into ways and means to kill people.

I find the whole concept shocking. In the Netherlands and Belgium, where they have had this a long time, the nurses just kill patients they don't think should live. No requests from the patient or family and no doctors. The number of people dying has increased tremendously in those countries. That is the slippery slope!

When my father was actively dying, the doctor tried to kill him with meds. My sister and I wouldn't allow it, so she took herself off the case. We got an actual palliative care doctor, who was very helpful and reassuring. I was there daily for my dad for 5 months. During that time my husband and I led him to the Lord.

Then what happens to doctors, nurses and institutions who will not do the killing, because of conscience or ethics? Do they get put in jail, or fired? Do the institutions lose their funding? It's almost worse than abortion! At least those doctors want to do the abortions. But to be in a geriatric ward, and get told you have to kill people when you signed up for medicine to save lives and help people is pretty appalling!

Wait, this isn't about assisted suicide? Sorry for the rant! As a disabled old person, I worry that they will kill me at some point when the meds don't work and I am whining about the pain. So that is my excuse as to why I brought it up!
Click to expand...
A friend of mine had to do abortions if she wanted to work as a nurse in one hospital, so she now works in another one.
They killed someone now on tv. Even the atheists thought it was absolutely insane, a woman who had Alzheimers.
Killing old people is legal now. They want a pill that everyone who feels down can kill themselves. It is insane. The devil kills steals and destroys.
Years ago, a collegue was so down. His father in law had cancer. I thought he died. No he's gonna be eutanized next week. What??? Collegue wasn't even saved. I said: is he a bit open to the gospel? Could you tell him he has to accept Jesus? No he's not open at all. I prayed my socks off the whole week. I ate nothing. My ex thought I had become nuts. My goodness. I dreamt he got saved though just in time. I promised that collegue that God would heal him. Never say that!! said my ex. Too late. My collegue didn't mind. My goodness, what a bunch of stress it was. My mother warned my granddad, then an antitheist, thsy he would go to hell if he used that pill he had. He listened. Got saved too. Can't those people just think a bit about me, that I can live stress free and just accept the Lord and not do such stupid things. My goodness.
 
M

Messy

Banned
#14
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#14
My grandma, it was so awful, she didn't recognize her own son anymore, but she was a christian. My dad said it was so horrible to see his mom like that, it was just terrible. So I prayed: Lord heal her now completely or take her home now.
That night she died. Someone left the window open, she died from pneumonia. My aunt felt guilty for years, since she left the window open. I told my ex. He said: hey why not? His dad was so sick, cancer everywhere, it was just terrible, he had to suffer a few months. We just prayed, because he was saved and wanted to go to heaven and that night he died peacefully. His brothers and sisters saw it, he looked heavenly, like a glow he had. The nurse came in and said: What did you do? As if they pulled the plug out. God just took him home. Christian euthanasia, only for the saved ones when it's their time.
 
PeterJens

PeterJens

Banned
#15
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#15
This is the hardest question of all. With modern medicine we will probably all live until finally kicked off the perch.

My uncle had prostrate cancer and was kept alive by a blood transfusion every 6 months. He had 3 or so hours of consciousness a day, and in the end said, he did not want it anymore, it was not a life. He just did not have the transfusion and the illness took its course.

For me this is a legitimate response, to let things happen rather than actively kill someone.

Do I want to live a long life? I just want to serve God, and if He desires it, then amen, if not, then amen, being with Him is far far far better than being here. With my kids and knowing the pain of loosing a parent early in life, for that I would want to live to a point where they are really established and happy. Our life is to be born, to live and then to die, to be with the Lord, Hallelujah.
 
M

Messy

Banned
#16
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#16
I have to live long, just like my parents. Parents who are old when they get kids have to live long. I wanna play soccer with my grandkids too when I'm 80.
 
J

jeremyPJ

Guest
#17
#17
I'm hoping so. :)
 
H

Hellooo

Guest
#18
#18
[video=youtube;OAUn3A4QtaI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAUn3A4QtaI&app=desktop[/video]
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#19
Aug 2, 2009
24,641
4,300
113
#19
Messy said:
Hey everything okay?
Leave him alone devil!
Click to expand...
There's just been a lot of really annoying things happening lately. In the end they turn out to be nothing, but there have been so many lately its ridiculous. For example, last night I recorded this song on my singing app and I sang it perfectly (in my opinion) and when I went to save it, it got up to 96% when the internet decided to stop working. Arrgh.. but something did happen a couple days ago that had me very upset and wishing I had not been born, but that turned out to be nothing too.
 
M

Messy

Banned
#20
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#20
zeroturbulence said:
There's just been a lot of really annoying things happening lately. In the end they turn out to be nothing, but there have been so many lately its ridiculous. For example, last night I recorded this song on my singing app and I sang it perfectly (in my opinion) and when I went to save it, it got up to 96% when the internet decided to stop working. Arrgh.. but something did happen a couple days ago that had me very upset and wishing I had not been born, but that turned out to be nothing too.
Click to expand...
I once when I was young was so mad at God and I wanted to die.
There was a spider in front of the door.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.