Pro 16:31 | KingComments | STEP | If someone has a gray head, or has gray hair. and thus wears “a crown of glory”, it is evidence that he is walking “the way of righteousness” and has walked it so far. Righteousness is rewarded with longevity (cf. ; ). Again, this is the general application of this book. The general meaning of righteousness in Proverbs is that the wicked do not live long and come to an early end and that the righteous live long. But that does not mean that it applies to everyone in all cases. The grayness of a wicked elderly is no ornament, and a person may die before the first gray hairs are seen even though he has walked in the way of righteousness. It should be the greatest concern of the elderly to remain “in the way of righteousness”. When it is seen in their old age that they have walked with God and continue to do so, their “gray head is a crown of glory” to them. Solomon says this primarily to the young. Young people are prone to see especially youthful strength as an ornamental crown, sometimes despising elders because of their physical weakness. God’s Word forbids this and demands respect for the elderly in its place ( ). Those who abide by it show respect for God’s choice of righteousness over youthful strength. But this Word is not only important for young people. For older people, it is important that they behave worthy of that “crown of glory”. Let old believers be old disciples ( ). By doing so, they give young people reason to respect them. It is along the same lines as what is said to Timothy that he should take care that no one despises him because of his youthful age ( ). Separately, it is always appropriate for young people to treat older people with respect, even when an elderly person does not behave with dignity ( ). Just as a gray head is superior to youthful strength ( ), patience is superior to physical strength ( ). Being slow to anger or patience is a characteristic of God ( ; ) and part of the fruit of the Spirit ( ). A person is “mighty” on a particular occasion in a particular case, but “he who is slow to anger” is better, for he demonstrates this Godly characteristic not only on particular occasions, but constantly. “He who rules his spirit”, or ‘controls’ his spirit, or controls himself, proves that he is better “than he who captures a city”. Capturing a city after a shorter or longer siege is an act involving casualties. Self-control or self-judgment does not harm anyone, but rather saves lives. It is for the blessing of others and for self-protection. A pious man once said to the king: ‘You are the servant of my servant.’ By this he meant: ‘You are the slave of your evil inclinations, while I am the master of my evil inclinations.’ The heart is a battlefield. The evil tendencies that dwell in it are deadly enemies. For the believer, they are vanquished enemies. The point is about killing the evil tendencies as soon as they want to assert themselves ( ), that is, defusing them immediately in self-judgment. We do this by seeing them as judged in Christ on the cross. The true power to overcome lies in knowing our position in Christ. In Him we are more than overcomers ( ).

‏ Proverbs 16:31

A Gray Head, Patience and Self-Control

If someone has a gray head, or has gray hair. and thus wears “a crown of glory”, it is evidence that he is walking “the way of righteousness” and has walked it so far. Righteousness is rewarded with longevity (cf. Psa 92:14; Lk 1:5-7). Again, this is the general application of this book. The general meaning of righteousness in Proverbs is that the wicked do not live long and come to an early end and that the righteous live long. But that does not mean that it applies to everyone in all cases. The grayness of a wicked elderly is no ornament, and a person may die before the first gray hairs are seen even though he has walked in the way of righteousness.

It should be the greatest concern of the elderly to remain “in the way of righteousness”. When it is seen in their old age that they have walked with God and continue to do so, their “gray head is a crown of glory” to them. Solomon says this primarily to the young. Young people are prone to see especially youthful strength as an ornamental crown, sometimes despising elders because of their physical weakness. God’s Word forbids this and demands respect for the elderly in its place (Lev 19:32). Those who abide by it show respect for God’s choice of righteousness over youthful strength.

But this Word is not only important for young people. For older people, it is important that they behave worthy of that “crown of glory”. Let old believers be old disciples (Acts 21:16). By doing so, they give young people reason to respect them. It is along the same lines as what is said to Timothy that he should take care that no one despises him because of his youthful age (1Tim 4:12). Separately, it is always appropriate for young people to treat older people with respect, even when an elderly person does not behave with dignity (Gen 9:20-27).

Just as a gray head is superior to youthful strength (Pro 16:31), patience is superior to physical strength (Pro 16:32). Being slow to anger or patience is a characteristic of God (Exo 34:6; Nah 1:3) and part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). A person is “mighty” on a particular occasion in a particular case, but “he who is slow to anger” is better, for he demonstrates this Godly characteristic not only on particular occasions, but constantly.

“He who rules his spirit”, or ‘controls’ his spirit, or controls himself, proves that he is better “than he who captures a city”. Capturing a city after a shorter or longer siege is an act involving casualties. Self-control or self-judgment does not harm anyone, but rather saves lives. It is for the blessing of others and for self-protection.

A pious man once said to the king: ‘You are the servant of my servant.’ By this he meant: ‘You are the slave of your evil inclinations, while I am the master of my evil inclinations.’ The heart is a battlefield. The evil tendencies that dwell in it are deadly enemies. For the believer, they are vanquished enemies. The point is about killing the evil tendencies as soon as they want to assert themselves (Col 3:5), that is, defusing them immediately in self-judgment. We do this by seeing them as judged in Christ on the cross. The true power to overcome lies in knowing our position in Christ. In Him we are more than overcomers (Rom 8:37).