Spiritual Retirement Is Not An Option

 

A registered nurse moved to a new community and decided to search for a job. She doubted she’d have a problem since nurses were always in demand. She emailed a letter to several potential employers with her resumé attached. Several weeks later she was surprised that she had not received a single response. Finally, she received a message that explained the lack of interest in he emails. The response read, “Your resumé was not attached as stated, but thank you for the chicken taco recipe you did attach. It’s delicious!”

Two well-to-do Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a group that was traveling around the world. One day in Korea, they passed a field by the side of the road, and in the field a boy pulled a crude plow while an old man held the plow handles directing it through the rice paddy. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene. “That’s a curious sight,” he said to the missionary / interpreter guide. “Yes,” was the reply. “That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church building was constructed, they were eager to give something, but they had no money. So, they sold the only ox they had and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.” The lawyer and businessman were silent for several minutes. The businessman said, “That must have been a real sacrifice.” “They did not call it that,” said the missionary. “They thought it was fortunate they had the ox to sell.” The two tourists had not much to say, but when they reached home, the lawyer took the picture to his preacher and told him of the incident. “I want to double my offering to the church,” he said. “And give me some ‘plow work’ to do. I have never seen or known what sacrifice for the Lord really means. I am ashamed to say that I have never given anything to Him that really cost me anything.” (A true story!)

[2 Corinthians 5:8] Most of us look forward to the day of our retirement from our jobs because it will mean that we have more time for things we have always wanted to do. It will give us more time to relax, enjoy life, and experience a true change of pace. One would think that to be true, but most retired people, including myself, are just as busy, if not more so, after they retire. However, it’s a different kind of busy – a busy with less pressure and stress. A mistake that some people make is that they view their retirement to also be a sort of spiritual retirement. Not that they stop going to worship, but they cut back on their involvement in church activities at a time when it would be quite easy to increase it. We talk about young people being the future of the church. If we don’t maintain the purity of today’s church, what will be the condition of the future church? True mature believers must stay involved in the conduct of the church for it to maintain its purity while young people are growing in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The apostle Paul looked forward to a spiritual retirement, but he didn’t view it as something that would occur in this life. (Philippians 1:19-26) “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that you rejoicing for me will be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.” Retirement is not an option in the Lord’s work, period!