Someone told me the other day that I needed to retire before “I work myself to death”. I replied that I’d never actually heard of anyone “working themselves to death”. He of course went on to tell me of various people he has known who dropped dead while hard at work!. I asked if the doctors had listed those people’s causes of death as “overwork”. His response was “I don’t know but that’s what caused it”.
Hmmm . . . I did not belabor the discussion because it was useless, not that I couldn’t do it mind you, indeed I could relate an example of someone I knew who was formerly actively involved in their job who retired and went to near inactivity after retirement Their life went to sitting on the couch, stuffing on chips and soda, and worshipping their big screen one-eyed God the TV. This person suddenly died on the couch less than a year later. I’m sure the cause of death was not listed as “retirement” and definitely not overwork.
Late in life I thought I could retire, but I didn’t like it. I’d much rather be involved with important projects, especially those that help lead people to Jesus, or provide me with the necessary funds to enable others to do so (health permitting). I’ve read the Bible many times and I’ve never seen one example where God blessed someone who was lazy or idle, nor have I seen any mention of retirement.
I think God has provided us with many examples of what happens when inactivity besets us. We merely waste away. If someone is in an accident and cannot exercise the muscles that were formerly strong, vibrant muscles will begin to atrophy and will eventually die. Don’t allow your life to atrophy, waste away, wither, shrivel up, and weaken until you degenerate into a couch potato and die. Find something you can be passionate about and get off the couch and do it.
Making the money that we need to support our families should not be the only object of working. Billionaire Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy once told me that he tells his employees to “work hard and have fun” with an emphasis on fun. He said if you aren’t having fun at your current job, then you should find a new one. He lived to be 90 some odd years old and still came into work most days. He doesn’t need the money, so I suppose he just wants to come in for a while and have some fun.
Proverbs 6:9
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?