The other morning, I was looking out the window, gazing at a large maple tree. Its leaves had changed color from green to hues of red and yellow–a sure sign the seasons were changing. It reminded me also of the changing season of my life. In spite of my best efforts to stay young, it seems I’m growing old. It’s hard to admit, but I’m afraid my best days are behind me.
“Why so melancholy?” you ask. I guess it’s because my body just doesn’t work the same as when I was younger. I don’t have the strength and stamina I used to have. I’ve slowed down. Minor injuries take longer to heal. At the end of the day, I’m fatigued and lack motivation to tackle chores with the same energy I had when I was younger.
No doubt you’ve heard similar complaints from older people. I’ll be the first to admit that it can be tedious to listen to older people complain about their aches and pains, but believe me, when it happens to you, it becomes personal.
Middle age is generally thought of as being between the ages of forty and sixty. I’m sixty-five. So I guess I’m no longer considered to be middle-aged. As I leave middle-age behind and enter the so-called “Golden Age”, I’m reminded of what the Bible says about what to expect. The Bible says: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:12-14).”
I like this verse because it gives hope for continued vitality even in old age. Strength and vitality are important for many reasons, but let me suggest that God gives us strength so that we can serve him even when we get old.
Many people look forward to getting older because they can’t wait to retire. They dream about retirement as a time when they can stay home and relax. But retirement should be more than not working.
One reason why you can’t just sit around and do nothing is because idleness is a recipe for disaster. Psychologists tell us that after we retire and are no longer working, we need to fill our time with meaningful activity. To sit around and do nothing often leads us to be unhappy and may even lead to depression.
Retirement should be a time when you have more time to serve the Lord. I’ve had the privilege of serving the Lord in full-time Christian ministry for thirty years. During that time, I served with many lay people who volunteered their time to work at the church. Some of the most faithful volunteers were men and women who had retired. These retirees used their time wisely to serve God.
That’s what I plan to do. Although my ministry doesn’t look the same as it did when I worked in full-time ministry, I’m still able to serve. I’m still able to make a contribution to God’s kingdom. Even though I’ve slowed down, I don’t plan to give up. I still want to make a difference in the world. I still want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful (Matthew 25:21).”
The Bible says: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).” Life may be winding down, but you still have time to serve the Lord.
Let me give a couple of suggestions for making the best of your retirement years:
First, become a volunteer at your church. Ask your pastor or another church leader if there’s a way to help.
Second, get involved in your church’s prayer ministry. It may be a prayer meeting at the church or at someone’s home, or it may be a prayer chain where you receive prayer requests for which you can pray at home.
Third, get involved in a variety of church ministries. You may be asked to do something you’ve never done before. Don’t shy away from it just because its something new. Jump in with both feet and see where God takes you. Eventually, the Lord will guide you to the ministry that is just right for you. The main thing is to get involved. God has something for you to do.
In the 1970s the hippy community had a saying that apply applies to us retirees. The phrase was “Keep on Truckin’.” In other words, don’t give up. As long as you have breath, serve the Lord. Don’t be lulled to sleep by some fairytale dream of leisure in your retirement years. Those may be the best years you have to truly make a difference. Serve the Lord with all your heart.
If you’re already retired and busy serving the Lord, that’s great, but if you’re planning to simply sit around and do nothing in your retirement, let me encourage you to think again and follow my three simple suggestions for having a happy retirement.
- Become a volunteer at your local church.
- Get involved in your church’s prayer ministry.
- Explore a variety of ministries until you find the one that is right for you.
Whatever season of life you may be in, let me encourage you to make the best of it. Serve God in the best way you can so that someday you will hear Jesus say: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful.”
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