Age and Leadership: How Old is Too Old?

June 19, 2025

By Kutosi Humphrey

What if your leader could barely step out of a car—would you still vote for them? Images and videos of General Moses Ali have been trending on social media, showing him frail, with his mouth appearing to gasp for breath. He was given nomination forms from his car, apparently because he was too weak to step out. Admittedly, the situation seemed pitiable, but it also aroused anger among some sections of the public, resurrecting an old debate: Can older individuals still lead effectively?

First, a disclaimer: This is neither an endorsement nor an opposition to any candidate or party. I’m not here to pick sides (I might one day do that) but to explore a question that’s buzzing in our minds. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s ask: how old is too old?

In answering this question, we will look to the Bible. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s God’s Word, and what he says trumps any human opinion. It is beyond the scope of this article to defend why I believe the Bible is God’s word; for that, check out my book, Faith on Trial. Sadly, many Christians sideline the Bible when it comes to politics. We’ve carved out a space where God has no voice. Instead, audience has been granted to the secular media to tell us how to vote, while many pastors shun politics or get involved for motives other than the name of Christ. Yet God does not hesitate to speak about politics in his Word and cannot be muzzled by the opinions or expectations of any man. So, what does he say about age and leadership?

Wisdom Wears the Crown, Not Youth

Unlike our culture, which idolizes youth and dismisses the elderly as irrelevant and out of touch, the Bible often associates old age with wisdom and youth with naivety and foolishness. Take Ecclesiastes 10:16, where the preacher warns, “Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child…” Or consider Isaiah 3:4-5, where, in punishing Israel for her unfaithfulness, God declares, “I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them…the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable…” What’s the takeaway? When God judges a land, he often hands it youthful rulers.

But hold on—does that mean older folks are always wise? Not quite. As a young person myself, I’m not trying to win ‘fool of the day’! The Bible acknowledges that it is not always the case that the old are wise or the young foolish. King Solomon writes, “Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king…” (Ecclesiastes 4:13). Sometimes, the elderly may not be wise (Job 32:9).

From Teens to Elders: God’s Chosen Leaders

God called David as a youth, passing over his older brothers, and appointed him king over his people. 1 Samuel 17:42 describes him through the eyes of Goliath: “And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.” “Youth, ruddy, and handsome” sounds like a movie star today, but back then, it was a dismissal, like the pitiful look you might give a child. Such traits were unfit for the battlefield. Yet God chose David, whom he judged “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

Moses, on the other hand, was called at the age of 80 to lead Israel out of bondage (Exodus 7:7). Similarly, Caleb was still strong and vigorous, as in his youth, at 85 (Joshua 14:10-12).

These Scriptures serve to remind us that God’s call to leadership ignores age. It is not limited to the young or the old. In fact, the youthful leaders we crave are often a sign of God’s judgment against a nation. Think of young Rehoboam, who ignored the counsel of the old seasoned advisors to his father Solomon in favor of that of his peers and lost most of his kingdom (1 Kings 12:8-16). So, if age isn’t the key, what is?

The Bible’s Blueprint for Leadership

Throughout its many pages, the Bible again and again describes what a good leader looks like. Perhaps no passage nails it better than 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Sure, it’s about church leaders, but its principles spill over to other leadership roles, including political ones.The two key ingredients for good leadership in this passage are character and competence. Want to spot competence? Look at how a candidate governs his family. Paul asks, “If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:5). The same goes for government. Do not expect the head of a chaotic family to deliver a stable government. You cannot give what you do not have. Paul also expects a church leader to be “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). Some may question why this applies to political leaders, but if a man cannot keep his marital vows, how can he uphold his oath of office or remain faithful to his voters? A full exposition of this passage is beyond this article’s scope, but these examples should lead you to see how our country could be radically transformed if we voted for such qualities.

Conclusion: Your Vote, God’s Wisdom

We have seen that the Bible sets no age limit on leadership but emphasizes wisdom, character and competence. Sure, wisdom often comes with gray hair, but not always. Sometimes, we get an old, foolish king, or, happily, a young, wise one. So what’s our job? Voters must prayerfully weigh a candidate’s qualifications beyond their age to make wise choices. Likewise, both young and older candidates should examine their readiness for leadership, seeking trusted counsel to confirm their qualifications or work toward meeting them.