Last summer, I sat around the breakfast table with my Dad, my five brothers, and a good friend. 

That morning, the richest part of our breakfast was not my sister Allison’s world-class muffins and eggs; it was our conversation with an experienced Christian businessman.

At 79 years old, Herman Slabach had been running his company for almost 50 years. He’d started out installing fiberoptic cables, but later began manufacturing trailers. His average employee retention was 19 years.

He explained the biblical principles and practical strategies that he applied in his business, leaving us wiser and better people.

Today, older and wiser men and women like Herman Slabach are all around us. Their insight and experience is like gold—it’s simply waiting to be mined. Unfortunately, few recognize its value or bother to extract it.

In this post, you’ll learn a three step process that’ll help you glean wisdom from older people. We all can learn much from those who’ve been down the life’s path miles ahead of us.

1. Eliminate Unhealthy Friendships

Proverbs 13:20 assures, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” 

Before you can find wise mentors, you may need to pull away from foolish peers. 

Rehoboam would have done well to have spent more time with older men. When torn between foolish peers and seasoned wise sages, Rehoboam followed the advice of those he grew up with (I Kings 12).

Another foolish friend, Jonadab, counseled his cousin Amnon to violate Amnon’s sister Tamar. Ultimately, Tamar lost her purity, and Amnon lost his life (2 Samuel 13).

Someone wise observed, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show me your future.” Whether younger or older, are your friends pointing you towards Christ?

2. Find People You Want to be Like 10-60 Years From Now.

Paul commanded, “Follow me, as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Likewise, Hebrews 13:7 states, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

We’re all following someone. Are we following those who are following Christ?

While age doesn’t always produce wisdom, many older people have something valuable to share with younger people. We should seek older mentors in every area and season of life.

Young women should search for older women who model and teach the truths of Titus 2:4-5 and Proverbs 31. Likewise, young men should find older men who live out Psalm 112, Titus 3, and I Timothy 3.

I’ve benefited much from my father’s wisdom regarding family, business, character, moral purity and much more. He imparted wisdom, and then pointed me towards more, constantly challenging me to seek older friends.

3. Seize the Opportunity

Proverbs 20:5 says, “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Wisdom is waiting, but no one’s going to spoon feed it to you.

Ask someone older and wiser to go out for breakfast with you. Before you go, write out ten thoughtful questions. They’ll be grateful that you appreciated their wisdom, especially because they’re rarely asked.

Additionally, be on the lookout for spontaneous nuggets of wisdom.

Approach every conversation with respect, humility, and a teachable spirit. Then, ask good questions and listen well. Next, apply what you’ve learned. If possible, come back for more.

Begin with the Heart

As young people, we sometimes think we can navigate through life on our own. However, God has graciously placed wisdom on our paths so that we wouldn’t have to learn the hard way.

Will we have the humility and courage to seek it out?

QUESTION: What great lessons can we learn from wiser, older, people?