Answers
By Billy Graham • August 21, 2017 • Topics: Aging, Lifestyle
Q:
For years my wife and I looked forward to retirement, and at first it was really great not having to go to work every day. But now we have lots of time on our hands with nothing to do, and we're getting bored. No one ever told us it would be like this. Did people in the Bible ever retire?
A:
Retirement in the modern sense is a recent development; ancient societies mainly depended on agriculture, and most people worked as long as they could in order to survive. In the Bible, the Levites (who assisted in the Temple ceremonies) were required to retire at the age of 50, but they were the exception; most people continued working (see Numbers 8:25).
Your letter, however, points to a common problem today: people often make plans to retire—but they don’t plan what they’ll do once they actually retire. They look forward to not working … they make financial plans … they hope to travel or spend time with family … but then reality sets in, and they grow bored. Perhaps your letter will encourage others who are nearing retirement to give it more thought—and prayer.
I added “and prayer” deliberately to that last sentence—because the most important thing you can do is seek God’s will for your retirement years. Listen: God is not finished with you! Why not seek His will for this time in your life? The Bible says, “Good and upright is the Lord. … He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Psalm 25:8-9).
Perhaps God will give you a part-time job, or open up opportunities to help people through your church or community. Don’t waste these years God is giving you, but use them for His glory. Boredom vanishes when we do God’s will!
