Three Stages of Life And The Three Essentials of Life
Three Stages of Life vs Three Essentials of life
It has been said that there are three stages of life. The 1st stage is the learning process. This started from the time that we were born to the time that we finished our college education. For some who were not able to finish their education, we can approximately leveling ages from one day old to 21 years old . This is what we called as the learning stage, the development stage or the preparatory stage of life heading towards the productive phase of life.
The 2nd stage is the Productivity. During our preparation and equipping through the years of learning from education of formal and non-formal schooling, we began to attain productivity little by little. This normally starts at the age of 21 to 60 years old. We begin to acquire new sets of friends, companions, workmates that along the way will help us to find little businesses, widening our connections and making our experience more credible and reputable. This is the stage of life where the most promising years of our career are foreseen, goals and dreams are beginning to materialize, others find employment as a way of reaching security and stability of their lives, and some turned into a different world and tried entrepreneurship. This is also the stage wherein the mind of getting into marriage and building a family of his own, raising children while the desired success is at hand.
The 3rd and final stage of life is the retirement stage. Now what? After passing through the preparatory and productivity phases of life, we are now realistically entering the retirement stage of life. Are we prepared or ready to face the new challenges ahead? Are we ready to sustain our existence knowing that the strength that once we enjoy is no longer the same as before, the youthful experience that full of adventures, thrills, enthusiasms may not be the same, the healthy lifestyle that we maintained through the years are still sustainable or the financial security has been considered and reaping the fruits of our preparation, planning and integrating things and resources to be our at source to sustain the final stage of life.
Proverbs 2:9-11 says “Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”
Truly, man was created perfectly with soul, body and spirit. We are gifted with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. These three is essential to see of what life is ahead of us, the future that is unknown and the reason for enjoying and sustaining life to the fullest. Life here on earth on the other hand is full of uncertainties, confusions, chaos and unstable phenomenon. Sometimes even you tried to combine all available resources to come up with a very organized and successful plan, still did not come out the way it should be. Among the three stages of life, there are some who have not been fortunate to finish the race because of so many predicaments. Others were destined to leave the world with unfinished works to be done, some may have been hindered by sicknesses and diseases, and even poverty entangle them to reach the final stage and unable to enjoy the retirement years of life.
The way God created man and endowed with many wonderful insights and beautiful aspirations. God granted us the courage to change the things we can. He gave us endurance to accept the things we cannot change and serenity to keep our inner peace perfectly. He provided us the wisdom to discern the good and perfect things to pursue, He gave us the knowledge to work on the things that could give best results and understanding the way the Lord moves in our midst.
In all phases and stages of life, God is there and equipped us with three essentials of life to plan, prepare and act upon it. God has good intention of giving us this life and enjoy it wonderfully. He had never promised us a life that is rose of garden but He had promised us that He will never leave us and forsake us especially as we are passing through our phases of life.
Given the three essentials of life, how can we plan and prepare for the future? Let us have first God’s wonderful favor as we walk in this life. Ask Him that we may be filled with His wisdom, knowledge and understanding. How can we sustain the two first stages of life without compromising the final stage? How can we sustain our present needs emotionally, physically, intellectually and financially without compromising our future needs? How can we enjoy our lives today that we can still secure our lives in abundance tomorrow? As I end it here, I will leave all the questions and suggest that you seek God to provide answers.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths.”