Today’s Devotional: Retirement doesn’t mean your work is finished
If we believe the media, retirement is a perpetual vacation. After a long stretch of working, we finally have time to practice our golf swing or indulge in the finer things of life. But what would life look like if we viewed retirement as an opportunity to serve, rather than a time to sit back back and relax?
In today’s Our Daily Bread, the author points out that God told the Levites to help and minister to the people after they retired. It seems that Biblically speaking, retirement isn’t a time to rest on your laurels, but instead it’s a time to serve those around us:
Did you know that God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50? (Num. 8:24-25). But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that they should “minister with their brethren… to attend to needs” (v.26). We cannot take this incident as a complete teaching on retirement, but we can see a godly implication that continuing to serve others after our working days are over is a good idea.
Many people find that when they retire they have nothing meaningful to do with their time. But as the Levites and Sir Edmund Hillary did, we can refocus when we retire—giving of our time to help others.
How could you serve after you retire?
Our pastor at our church had to leave for medical reasons. A pastor, who had been retired for a couple of years and lived in a nearby town, Gary, was brought in to help guide us for a couple of months until our new pastor could arrive. Gary had thought he was done with ministry at the front of a church until this door was opened by God. In stepping through, Gary realized that he still loved being a pastor and perhaps all he needed was a change in location. Our church also loved him. Alas he did have to let go and let our new pastor come in, but I am sure that Gary would come out of retirement again should the need arise.
And it is very true that we are never done doing God’s work. In the truest sense of ministry our very thoughts, words, and deeds should show Christ to others. Each of our lives is our ministry for God’s creation.