Retirement

Question/Comment

Christian view on retirement ? is it biblical ? what activities do you recommend ? is the purpose of our lives gardening and shopping ?

Response

I once thought that “retirement” was about fishing and shopping, but I find little time to do either! As I have said to several people, I don’t feel as though I retyred, I just retreaded, found myself placed on a different axel and sent back on the road again!

There is Biblical precedent for retirement: Levite males were enlisted for service in the tabernacle from where they turned 25 until they turned 50. After turning 50, they retired from the regular work of the Tabernacle but they could continue to assist their brothers in their ongoing work. Of course, we never retire from serving God, the way we serve Him may change, but we still continue to serve. We read in Luke of Simeon and Anna who continued to serve in their old age. Paul told Titus that the older men and women are to teach, by example, younger men and women how to live. So retirement is not just gardens and shops, it is still serving God in whatever capacity we can.