So when do we retire?
Before attempting to answer virtually any important question I always go to the Bible and try to understand what the Lord has to say about it.
Okay so what does the Bible say about retirement?
The only verses that I can find that specifically pertain to retirement in the Bible are Numbers 8:25-26 …but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work…
Basically these guys, (the Levites), were in the priesthood and for the most part performed back breaking grueling manual labor carrying large jars of water for their purification rituals, setting up tents, and so forth.
This edict declares that from the age of fifty years they shall discontinue doing the laborious and exhausting parts of their work and take on more of an advisory or management role. But I think it is important to note as an important aside, that while the Bible ordains that they shall refrain from their more strenuous regular duties, it doesn’t tell them to quit working entirely and head to the golf course and fade into obscurity.
Hmmm… I have thought about this for a good long while and as with the rest of the Bible, it makes perfect sense to me. It seems our society and indeed the world wants to take the diametric opposite approach. Society ordains that when we reach a certain age that we should retire and never be heard from again; however it defies logic to remove people from the workforce at the precise moment when they are the most skilled at their job and finally know what the heck is going on.
In effect this rather stupid policy weeds out all of the most experienced and knowledgeable veterans and replaces them with youngsters that are full of enthusiasm and energy, but are still “wet behind the ears” and can hardly find their way to the bathroom.
What the Bible seems to be telling us is that these “old dogs” need to hang it up on the heavy lifting, but hang on as advisors and share that vast storehouse of knowledge and experience that they’ve accumulated over a lifetime with those who will follow.
I look at life as…well… “a once in a lifetime”… opportunity. In other words this ain’t no dress rehearsal; it is all that we’ll ever get of this opportunity; so we might as well take full advantage of it.
I’ve been accused of having a motor that is constantly running far too fast; however in the big scheme of things, (as in eternity versus the 77.9 years that the average person lives); I want to accomplish all I can while I’ve still got the chance. I started out doing the back breaking work myself and now for the most part I delegate those tasks to others. I don’t mind work; in fact I am passionate about it and love accomplishing things.
One thing for sure I don’t want to just sit around as a sour old man and just gripe about anything and everything from the time that the sun comes up until it goes back down again.
I allocate time to spend with family, and hunt, fish, and yes even sit and stare and maybe doze off a little, but I enjoy my work immensely too; (one visit to Honey Lake will convince you of that).
I enjoy my ministry work most of all. This in my mind is the singular most important segment of this Bible-based non-retirement concept. Seasoned workers who have been tested under fire are desperately needed in the field of God’s great commission (namely spreading the Gospel throughout the world).
Who has read, studied, and knows the Bible? Who has made tons and tons of mistakes (and paid dearly for them)? Who could share a lifetime of wisdom to those young bucks and does coming up? Who realizes all too well the concept of the brevity of life?
Don’t think that just because the old head is turning silver, the body is not as strong as it used to be, you can’t hear a foghorn much less a pin drop, and the eyesight is weak that you are useless. We the older generation are an instrumental part of God’s perfect plan and should be thankful and honored that we have been allowed to continue participating and are where we are.
I believe God has us perfectly positioned at this juncture to do what He wants us to do. It has nothing to do with money or whether we can afford to retire or not. It has everything to do with contributing.
We will have plenty of time to chill and relax when the Lord has exhausted His desire for our contributions to His purpose for us on this earth, and He calls us on home to spend time with Him forever…
Have a great day today and go to church this Sunday!
2 Chron. 35:3
He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the LORD: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the LORD your God and his people Israel.