feelings of potential social isolation, too much time to do nothing with, fears of age-related illnesses, a reduction in their financial situation and just a general malaise about their future mortality.
Thank you Anukrah unsplash.com
The pace of life is so much faster these days and it’s a very real fact that older people are, or have been, left behind in the workplace – and arguably in society – by the technology revolution. Many public car parking spaces, and even many public toilets, now only work by apps or mobile ‘phones, making this a major problem for many older people who still regard cash as king. It could even be construed as a form of discrimination.
But retirement can be a time to take up new physical, social, educational and community challenges and make the next chapter in life one of the best. There are so many opportunities if people approach retirement with the right attitude.
But has retirement got a biblical view? The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer (Numbers: 23 – 26).
According to the Bible, God has a purpose for older people: “Not lording it over others but helping, listening, mentoring, encouraging and, above all, telling of His faithfulness (Psalm 78).”
Not many people can afford to retire at 50 and lead a busy, healthy and happy retirement of maybe 30 or 40 years ahead – and even fewer would possibly want to. I took my first retirement at age 55 but then re-trained to work with special needs children until I was 61. Life since then has been good for me as I’ve always kept fit and healthy, started going to gym and dance classes in my late 40s, been a member of various music and social groups, do charity work, keep busy with grand-children and, more latterly, joined my local church community. I feel my life has been, and continues to be, very balanced.
Graham – Does the Bible have much to say about retirement and how it should be spent? Would God view enjoying leisure time in retirement as self-centredness? From your life coaching and pastoral experience, do you have advice how people should still feel useful at this stage in their lives. And, finally, have you ever received wise words from people wishing they’d spent their lives differently?
Rev Graham replies:
Thank you, Carol, for your thoughtful question. It seems quite an irrelevant one for those who are young. However, for people of a certain age, it is very poignant and one that requires a certain amount of planning and preparation for.
As a life coach I have worked with a number of people who have reviewed their paid work in the light of how they would want to embrace a period of retirement. In a coaching capacity I would ask individuals, especially Christians, to think about what the reality of retirement might be for them. What do they think the Lord may want them to do in a season of re-purpose and then how it related to their mindset and action plans to ensure a good retirement-life balance? I would add a curveball question: Think about what you might not want to give up? This can identify certain values and interests that we appreciate and want to hold onto.
Reality Check
I believe the whole concept of retirement is an artificial one and can only be truly appreciated by those who have an adequate income to live on which enables them to continue or improve on a lifestyle after completing a period of paid work. Many people throughout the world do not live to a prescribed retirement age and have to work until they die or are no longer able to work for money and then have to rely on and be cared for by family or professionals.
Retirement can be seen as a new season in life which brings a re-purpose or re-tread from the norm of structured work. As humans, I believe we are created to work and serve and not just to self-indulge ourselves. A new season to enjoy, take time to rest and be renewed and re-engaged as an elder in society full of wisdom and blessings to share for a new generation to follow.
Thank you Vlad unsplash.com
Within a period of retirement there is the opportunity to be released from any power and prestige we have been holding onto and the climbing of any ladder of success and control. It is also an opportunity to lay down certain responsibilities we have been carrying for a number of years.
Spirit Check
Within the bible, true retirement can be seen only when we take our last breath on earth. We then transition to an everlasting life which, for the Christian, is within the presence of God. As you have referred to, Carol, in Numbers 8 it is suggested that a priest working in the temple should retire from their work when aged fifty so as to give opportunities to a younger priest to take over the temple responsibilities.
When we read about King Saul (1 Samuel 15) and King Hezekiah, we find that Saul’s life was ended early and Hezekiah was granted an extra fifteen years of life. (2 Kings 20: 1 – 11). In thinking about the present and the future, we can gain confidence from the words of Jeremiah 29: 11 that the Lord “knows the plans He has for us which is to prosper and not to harm us and thereby giving us a hope”.
In Psalm 71: 16-19 we are encouraged to “commit our actions to the Lord and our plans will succeed”. It can be stated that, in the service of the Lord, we never retire – we only enter into different seasons and opportunities dependent on our health and wealth. (Matthew 20:28, Ephesians: 2-10, and Colossians 3: 23). Within Job 32: 6- 10 an elder person is not considered old and aged but noble, wise and to be honoured.
In 2 Timothy 4: 7 we find that it is important to have fought the good fight and finished the race of work and life while keeping hold of our faith in God. Within modern society, having grey hair represents old age but in lots of other communities it is understood as having a crown of splendour that may be attained in the way of righteousness and God will not forsake us in our old age (Proverbs 16 3).
Mind Check
In thinking about any future season, as a believer it is important to approach our maturing years on earth with the thought of how best to live with eternity and a new life to come in mind. As you asked, Carol, I do think that many people can and do approach retirement as some form of end game, to wind down and at times to give up and begin to let go.
There is a mind-set of living a very self-centred life and having little concern for others unless it personally benefits them. Work can be a creative act for an employee with an exchange of money or for our own enjoyment without any income.
Action Check
In retirement we can have a greater opportunity to support family, friends and neighbours. We can give time to pray and to visit people in particular need. To teach and share our life wisdom and to rest our bodies, minds and spirits. To enjoy old and new hobbies and interests and to travel and have fun remembering to praise and worship God more.
Retirement Life Balance Check.
In respect to having a work-retirement-life balance, it is good to remember the words of the Lord to Joshua that in old age “there was still much land to possess” (Joshua 13 1-3). Personally I think it is good to see life as a series of seasons to navigate through. They come to us planned or by default, independently or with the help of others beside us.
In reality we work and rest in one form or another until we die. Formalised work is one where we exchange our time and skills for money and income that gives us a roof over our heads and food, clothing and other activities to appreciate.
Thanks freebibleimages.org
I am a firm believer that the best is always yet to come. I have known people to become missionaries and church leaders after entering an early or later structured retirement plan. God can give us strength beyond our years. Moses only got going when he was in his 80th year and the same applies for Noah, Abraham and numerous others. I have heard it said that we are created to create and care and support others.
Thank you, Carol, for this list you have found from the British Heart Foundation which offers some very useful tips for a happy retirement which we both hope you will find helpful:
1. Get your finances in order.
2. Wind down gently.
3. Prepare for the ups and downs.
4. Eat well.
5. Develop a routine.
6. Exercise your mind.
7. Keep physically fit.
8. Make a list of what you’d like to achieve in life.
9. Seek social support.
10.Make peace and move on.
11. Go for a regular health check.
12. Keep in touch with friends from work.
13. Pamper yourself.
14. Practise mindfulness.
15. Give back to the community and society.
16. Be at one with nature.
17. Travel more.
18. Get a new pet or volunteer at a pet rescue centre.
19. Push your boundaries.
20. Take up a new project.
Lastly a Fond Farewell to Carol
Carol – these December questions are the last ones we will have considered together in our website Explore to Inspire in its current form which has developed over the last two years. Thank you, Carol, as you embark on other aspects of your own re-purpose in life and your kind words in your article From the Heart.
You have asked some amazing questions which are not fully discussed or even understood by young and mature Christians. I have personally loved the challenge of your questions and spent many hours labouring to answer them in a limited format which hopefully, for both Christians and non-believers, offer insights and answers to all your challenging and spiritual questions.
I am going to take a Sabbath rest from writing during the month of January to review how our shared website has been. I will seek the Lord’s guidance for a new season of writing which will be equally challenging and spiritually enlightening and encouraging. The revised site will be ready, God willing, from February 2024
SIGNPOST ORGANISATIONS
Care for the Family Call us: 029 2081 0800 Email us: mail@cff.org.uk
Premier Life Line Call us: 0300 111 0101 Email: lifeline@premier.org.uk
AGE UK – www.ageuk.org.uk Tel: 0161 746 3940 (Trafford) 0161 833 3944 (Manchester).
INDEPENDENT AGE – www.independentage.org/advice-guides/feeling-lonely
Helpline – 0800 319 6789.
MARMALADE TRUST – www.marmaladetrust.org Tel: 07566 244788
NHS – www.nhs.uk
SIXTY AND ME.COM
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE – Clubs in many areas – look online.
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE – Clubs in many areas – look online.
Graham
Explore to Inspire 
