Continuing Eternal-Education
We’ve got Work to Do
Q. I’m out of work. But, I’m too old (48) and struggle with arthritis and other ailments to do most things that require physical labor which was my main occupation. Also, I don’t just want to be a “worker bee” for globalists. But, I know the Bible says “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thess. 3:10). So what would you suggest I do? (B.R.)
Answer:
Thanks for your excellent questions. I’m not sure we can answer exactly for your particular situation. But, this is an issue that affects a lot of people today – especially baby boomers who don’t have any retirement savings and need to go back to work.
No Such Thing as “Retirement” in the Bible
As “busted” baby boomers we don’t need to fret terribly over not having retirement savings because in God’s economy no one should be retiring anyway! You will not find people retiring in the Bible. God has a job for Christians to do until He takes us home. “Retirement” is a foreign word for believers.
Facing Reality
However, many of us find we can’t do the things we used to do. There is also a part of us that does not want to work as hard as we used to. This isn’t easy to accept and requires us to face the reality of aging.
In our case just picking-up lint or pet hair off the floor is a major undertaking. Gardening or lawn maintenance, household work and other routine things sometimes means we have to pace ourselves so that we don’t do more than one heavy job per day (like weed whacking one small area per day or scrubbing the floors one day and cleaning a cupboard the next). We need to pace ourselves knowing our own limitations.
Turning “Can’t” into “Can”
But, there are new kinds of things we can do. For instance, I used to perform with a symphony. But, the long drive and hours of sitting became too difficult with arthritis and a bad back. My vision changed and I couldn’t see the music and the conductor at the same time – even with glasses. This job required split-second responses.
However, I can still sit at a computer and write articles. I can edit and correct grammar. I can teach students to play the piano or flute from my home.
Desk Jobs
I would imagine that there are jobs which require managerial abilities or something which is a desk job even for those who used to do hard, physical labor.
For instance, someone has to do the books or arrange for appointments. Someone has to take customer orders and do things on a computer. Someone has to deal with customer complaints or do consulting work. Think through job descriptions that you can do.
Corrie ten Boom
There are always things we can do. I love the story of Corrie ten Boom. This bold Christian hid Jews from the Nazis in World War II. But, in the last decade of her life she suffered a debilitating stroke and could do nothing (from the world’s standpoint). So, Corrie spent the last ten years of her life praying for others – that was God’s last “job” for her.
Community Colleges
Community colleges offer job training for many things at a reasonable cost to students. Perhaps you could pick-up a catalog and browse through it to help you think about specific skills you might be able to learn. You might have a smattering of skills which need just a little “fine-tuning” to use on a job. Certain classes or vocational training might give you the specific skills you need to add to something you can already partly do.
Volunteering
Many retirees enjoy volunteer work. There are so many volunteer job descriptions we can’t write about them in this article. For example, foster grand parenting is something Social Services encourages. Youngsters who lose their biological families to foster care need caring, older folks to help them live more normal lives. They really need us. Never underestimate that.
Godly Living
Remember that the New Testament doesn’t say that only certain religious jobs count in life. We don’t even need to worry about becoming “worker bees” for globalists. The apostle Paul says,
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24, NASB).
This is a wonderful verse. It tells us that no matter what job we do or for whom, it is really Jesus whom we serve. It is our attitude that counts – not what we do.
For example, if you work driving a truck for FED EX your work is to be done as if Christ is your employer. If you deliver mail then do the best job you can because you are serving the Lord as you go about your daily work. In God’s view cleaning toilets counts as much as being a missionary.
Wow!
A Life of Cruises & Golf Tournaments?
Remember for the Christian retirement is not really an option. Even if we could fully retire with terrific pensions the Lord still has work for us to do. He doesn’t say believers should go on permanent vacation cruises and golf tours (as some retirement publications suggest). Instead, we are to continue a Protestant work ethic – “If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
We work for our food and we make the Lord our employer no matter what we do or for whom we work – until God takes us home.
Celestial Missionaries
For the Christian, continuing education is eternal:
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).
“God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).
In other words, all Christians on earth and in heaven are celestial missionaries.
We have work to do here now and in our eternal future!