Reluctant Retiree

When we lived in Nepal we saw the Hindu religion practiced openly. Their festivals were celebrations of color, dance, and noise. People went out of their way to demonstrate their fervor. Animal sacrifices were public so everyone could know who was devoted. Loud prayers were also publicly offered. People would often incur much debt to put on a spectacle of religious commitment.

In the west, we may think that this kind of religious ceremony is outdated at best. However, we put on the same kind of religious displays. People wear crosses around their necks. We carry large heavy Bibles. We make signs and protest on occasion. In meetings we offer loud and long prayers.

Jesus was not impressed by public displays of religious fervor. In Matthew 6:1 He said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Jesus is not saying that we should keep our faith secret and hidden. Instead, He is saying that our motives should be to honor God and serve others, not to gain attention and praise from others. We must always check our hearts when we worship to ensure our desire is to bring glory to God, not to get attention for ourselves.

In our area, every business seems to be hiring. “Now Hiring ” signs are everywhere. Many advertise signing bonuses, higher pay, and more benefits. The competition amongst businesses is fierce. The prospective employee not only has a choice of where to work but what benefits are to be chosen.

I wonder what benefits carry the most weight for job searchers. Is it fully paid medical coverage at the provider of their choice? Or would six weeks of paid vacation sway the searcher? In any case, those seeking employment are currently in the driver’s seat.

What benefits mean a lot to you.? Do you want a house with all the modern conveniences? Or how about a sleek new sports car? We need to be careful about what we seek and why. Our desires may take us in directions we do not really want to go.

Take a look at the benefits described in Psalm 103:2-5; “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Just from this short list, God forgives all over our sins, redeems us from our despair, grants us love and mercy, and satisfies us with good. Now that’s a list of unsurpassed benefits. I’ve signed up to receive these benefits by believing in Jesus Christ and the salvation He provided on the cross. You can do the same,but don’t wait. It is a limited time offer, available only during your lifetime or until soon return.

Our culture is diametrically opposed to the idea of contentment. Advertising pounds us relentlessly with the promise of obtaining more. The American Dream is to acquire a more financial success and personal possessions. We want to have the latest and greatest stuff and always more of it. We make significant sacrifices in the pursuit of things. Family, relationships and personal peace are laid on the altar of discontent.

Complacency comes with its own set of problems. As opposed to not having enough, complacency settles for less than our best when it comes to character development. Complacency keeps us from growing in godliness, honesty, faithfulness, love, and a host of other positive character traits. It gets us to believe that we are good enough and we should stop trying to become better.

While both words have negative connotations, God desires that we become content but never complacent. I Timothy 6:6-8 says, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” It is good to be content that our basic needs are met. It is not good to be complacent with our character development. We must always strive toward godliness.

I was first diagnosed with diabetes seven years ago. Immediately I was sent to a nutrition doctor. The doctor rightly told me about nutritional changes that would help me lower my blood sugar. In my stubbornness, I told her that I could make some small changes to my diet but that I was not willing to make the wholesale alterations she suggested. She patiently listened and told me to do what I could do.

So I made some small changes while still enjoying many of the foods I liked. Maybe four months later I had a follow up appointment with the doctor. My A1C had gone from 8.7 to 7.1, much better but still too high. I had also lost 20 pounds. The doctor was pleased and I was ecstatic.

Encouraged by these results, I made more changes by finding foods that were both healthy for me and that I enjoyed eating. I also took up a daily walking program, which I found that I enjoy as well. My A1C now hovers around 5.7 and I have lost over 100 pounds since that first meeting.

What accounts for such a dramatic change? First I had to admit that I lacked self-control. Then I had to accept the necessary help from the doctor. Then I had to ask God to give me self-control in my eating habits and exercise. The last thing I wanted to do was limit myself in the foods I ate. In my unhealthy state, I also didn’t want to exercise. Telling myself to do healthy things wasn’t going to be enough. I needed God to work on my attitudes and feelings. He gave me self-control, improving my health and outlook.

Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

I am usually thinking ahead. My thoughts take me down the path that I expect to take, a path that I think I control. Somehow I rarely see the unexpected U-Turn or sudden right turn just ahead. Suddenly things seem out of control. Fortunately, they are only out of my control. God is still in control of all my circumstances. So it is best if I just obey God’s Yield sign on life’s journey.

In the Bible, the disciples, Peter and Andrew, experienced these truths and it changed their lives. They had not yet met Jesus and were involved in their business of fishing. Suddenly Jesus came up to them: “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Jesus spoke to them and they followed him. Their lives changed in that moment. Instead of spending their lives on the sea, they invested their lives in following Jesus while serving others. They wound up going far and wide speaking of God’s forgiveness and love. Countless people believed and their lives also were dramatically changed. Peter and Andrew went from having a small impact upon others as fishermen, to men of God who impacted the whole world.

God wants to do the same thing with you. He is calling your name right now and asking you to follow Him. He wants you to immediately drop what you are doing and obey Him. Give up control of your life to the One who controls all things. You won’t regret it and He will use you to change the world around you.