And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19)

No Retirement

The idea of retirement is a relatively new phenomenon in the modern world. For thousands of years, there has never been a time in life when the mass of people could attain a place where work was not required. When Adam lost his paradise home, he was forced to work by the sweat of his brow for his livelihood. The daily struggle of life was measured by the constant need to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Only for the wealthy was the privilege of taking one’s ease a possibility. With the advent of government programs and financial packages companies offer, retiring has become a common practice. Most people look forward to when they can stop working and spend their final days with ease and pleasure.

While the privilege of retiring is a blessing in the work field, there is one area where there is no retirement. A war has been waged that will never stop until a person dies. Early in life, the spirit of a man learns accountability to God, and sins begin their vicious attack. The knowledge of good and evil separates a man as an eternal creature accountable to God. This spiritual battle never stops and is not measured by years. Only death will bring an end to the constant warfare of overcoming the wiles of the devil. Fighting against evil never stops. There is no retirement from the battlefield. No gold watches are given to those who succeed after twenty, thirty, or forty years. The reward will only come on the other side of the grave.

Retirement is a time to take one’s ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Jesus told the parable about a rich fool who positioned himself in a place where he thought his life was set for good. His failure was not preparing his eternal spirit for death. God had blessed him with great wealth that he decided to horde for himself. He thought he would live out his days in pleasure and ease. God called him “Fool” because he died that same night. He wanted to retire in splendor. His death changed everything. There is never a time in life when the soul must not work diligently to keep itself pure from the influences of evil. Sin is a constant threat to all men.

One of the sad things that happen in the church is when people retire from their secular job and decide they can retire from the church as well. They no longer teach classes, help with the work of the church, open their homes for Bible studies, attend classes during the week, or do other church activities. The older are told to teach the younger because there is never a time a person should retire from the work of the Lord. Some saints use their retirement to do more for the Lord. Not burdened with a daily job, they spend themselves helping the local church prosper in number and spirit. The work of the church will continue to need people to man the stations of evangelism, benevolence, and exhortation as long as the world stands. Retirement is a blessing to be used for the glory of God. Becoming like the rich fool in the parable of Jesus has no meaning to the man’s life. He wanted to sit back and take his ease, and he died that night. If a man must die, let him die busy for the Lord instead of lying around doing nothing. Enjoy retirement, but please do not retire from your spiritual battles and the work of the church. We need all hands on deck – those still working and those who are retired.