Ken Joines penned the profound and biblically accurate statement: “I believe retirement should look different for Christians. It should be a chapter of service and not indulgence.” From when he was weaned throughout his life into old age, the prophet Samuel served God faithfully. “Retirement” was not a word in his vocabulary. He served God foremost in life! Not exactly in retirement at the age of 80 while tending livestock in the wilderness of Sinai, God called upon Moses to take upon himself a difficult job that would require 40 more years to fulfill. Certainly, Moses was surprised on several levels at the burning bush!
A dictionary definition for “retirement” is “withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or from active working life” (Merriam-Webster). If the child of God sets his or her sight on the heavenly horizon rather than on the winter of his or her own earthly habitation, the child of God will serve God foremost in life – as long as he or she lives and has the physical stamina to do so. No Christian ought to imagine that he or she will ever experience retirement years from Christian service in this life.
When the child of God does not serve God foremost, one’s sight is set too low – not on the heavenly horizon and proper eternal goal. Then, throughout life, there will be a constant internal battle between conviction and convenience. Earthly vocations and worldly pursuits will prevail over Christian service – plus over Christian living and Christian worship, too. The job, family and recreation will be one’s primary areas of focus and receive the bulk of attention and money.
Like the biblical patriarchs (Hebrews 11:13), Christians are supposed to be pilgrims on this earth (1 Peter 2:11) instead of homesteaders. Especially the western world is content with just a piece of God’s green earth rather than concentrating on the spiritual journey to a city “whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Many Christians have already retired from Christian service well ahead of achieving an age that may permit them to leave behind the workplace.
No Christian ought to presume retirement from Christian service, Christian living or Christian worship – at any age. There may not be a burning bush in your life, but if you are truly a faithful Christian, God has a job for you to do. Christians need to be careful how they think about “retirement.”
Works Cited
Joines, Ken. “This ‘N That.” Ken’s Newsletter November 2007.
Merriam-Webster, I. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1993. CD-ROM. Bellingham: Logos Research Systems, 1996.
