For Christ’s love compels us… (2 Cor. 5:14)

Elderitis: a state of unfruitfulness in old age creating a disconnection with other generations through a desensitized spirit, a hardened heart, a foolishness of mind, an absence of purpose, a loss of impact, and a loss of respect. It is a state in which the inner man is no longer being renewed, where vision is replaced by reminiscence, and wisdom gives way to folly.

Americans are obsessed with books and seminars about being driven to financial success, personal significance and purpose, or driven to lose weight and look young. A cult-like attraction has emerged around those who are driven by a pursuit of success in some realm. Driven people are admired, envied and even worshiped for their aggressive lifestyle and determination to succeed. Their success stories can be very appealing.

In reality, everyone is driven by something—usually a want or need. The apostle Paul, on the other hand, suggests a different view of drivenness. He described himself, not as driven, but “compelled”—compelled by Christ and His love to preach. So, what’s the difference? Aren’t these just two words to describe the same thing? Actually, no…they are not.

You may be driven by a passion of some kind that is nothing more than a selfish pursuit of your desire for personal significance and success. The compelling Paul spoke about, however, originates outside yourself—it is an inner compelling from God, not a drivenness to accomplish your agenda. The compelling of God is expressed through a total dependence upon and surrender to God’s plan for your life. It is defining success in terms of what God is doing through you, not what you do for Him, even though it may or may not look like success in the eyes of the world.

In our world the concept of driven is usually more about you than God, which is a precursor to the affliction and unfruitfulness of elderitis in which foolish goals and desires supplant the fruitful and fulfilling compelling of God in my life. Failure to grasp this distinction will open the door for elderitis to afflict my soul and limit my usefulness in the Kingdom. So, a vital prescription for combating this affliction must be an unreserved surrender to the compelling of God in Christ for your life. Which describes you, and how would your grandchildren and children describe you—driven, or compelled?

GRANDPAUSE: Continue in the things that concern Him;?He will continue to take care of the things that concern you. –Roy Lessin