Reluctant Retiree

Do you remember the television show Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous? Every week the host would visit the estates, mansions and palaces of celebrities, world leaders and the wealthy. We were taken on virtual tours through these properties and exposed to the most lavish accommodations and features available. I dare say that this show inspired many people to make a goal of living lavishly.

I wonder how many of those people were truly happy. It seems to me that once you acquire all those possessions you just want more or you get bored with what you have. That explains why these properties change hands so often.

I aspire to a different type of lavish living. Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” Grace is unmerited favor. So God lavishly gave us favor, not because we deserved it or earned it. But rather, He gave us this grace based upon the blood of His own Son. Part of this lavish grace is redemption and forgiveness of sins. This is the lavish living that I want to live with. It is available to everyone who turns from their sins and trust Jesus for salvation. You are invited to this lavish living.

Obviously, I am retired now, but I had a job from the time I was 15 years old. I worked in a liquor store, hospital, schools, banks, fast food restaurant, church, and offices. For the last 15 years of employment I was a missionary, first in Nepal and then in all of Asia. Some of these jobs I enjoyed like banking and missions. Some I did not, like fast food manager and janitor. Some jobs I was good at, like banking and hospital accounting. Some jobs I did not do well with, like teaching and cleaning.

Life is better when you enjoy the work that you are doing. It is much easier to get up and go to the job, if it brings some pleasure and satisfaction. As a retiree there are some aspects I like and some that I do not care for. I like setting my own schedule and being able to volunteer at a variety of charities. Although I enjoy relaxing, sometimes retirement can becom become a little tedious.

The Bible says that God is always working. It also says that He will complete the work that He has begun in His children. What does He enjoy? Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ” It pleases God to work in us, equipping us with everything good. God enjoys transforming His children into the image of His Son.

My wife and I are in the process of buying a condominium. After renting for six years, it has become more economical to buy. As with any house we could acquire, the condo needs some work, if for nothing else but to make it more comfortable for us. The problem is that I am not very handy at this type of work. My wife is the one in our family with skills. I will do what I can, but I will need her counsel, at minimum.

Of course, when we were younger and building a home, not just a house, we worked well together. We imparted good values and habits to our children while promoting a healthy and strong environment for their growth. I can say that now, like it was easy, because our three children all turned out to be good people.

However, it wasn’t entirely our doing, or really even mostly our doing. Early on we committed ourselves to following Jesus and His guidance. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. ” We have found this verse to be true. Without the Lord’s blessing and grace, we would have made a mess, rather than a home.

Have you ever watched the Ironman Triathlon? These incredible athletes swim more than 2 miles, bike more than 100 miles and run 26 miles. They battle the heat, pain, exhaustion and mental agony for more than 8 hours.

What makes them endure so much pain and continue on? It is the Finish Line. They endure the pain for the glory of the Finish.

We do the same thing all the time. When we go on vacation by car with kids, we endure the backseat noise, complaints, and quarrels, because we know that when we get to our destination we will have a good time. On our way up the corporate ladder, we endure menial tasks, office politics, and disappointments to arrive at a fulfilling and productive position.

Life often gives us obstacles to overcome as well. Disappointment and frustration come at us from various sources. How can we not just endure sufferings, but overcome them and be victorious? In Hebrews 12:1-2 God shows us the way and gives us a model. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

For those of us who love God and believe in Jesus, we can endure the suffering by fixing our eyes on Jesus and the glorious eternity that awaits us at the finish line. Endurance is made much easier if we also lay aside sin and the worldly passions that slow us down. Jesus is our example.

I am not a big worrier, but I do get anxious about some things. Anxiety sets in with an upcoming dentist appointment. If there is a long line at the store, I begin to wonder whether I will make it to my next meeting. If I desire some new thing, I may ponder whether I will ever be able to get it. When one of my children or grandchildren is struggling, I can be anxious about the outcome.

Those are relatively minor worries. We are all subject to much greater issues that can cause us to worry. Job stresses, unpaid bills, health issues, and relationship struggles can cause major fits of anxiety.

Most worry comes from a lack of contentment with who we are and what we want to control. We worry because we don’t have enough of the right things or the right appearance before others. We think that if we just get that new thing or update our look, others will admire us. It’s all about our self esteem.

God has a better way. Psalm 131:1-2 says, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. ” God says that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. He tells us to be content in who He created us to be. Therefore, we should be content in what we have also.

After 70 years of life, I am well aware of my many faults. My ears and nose are too big for my face. My hearing and eyesight are failing. Flabby skin and hair cover too much of my body. Those are just some of my physical deficiencies. On the social and emotional spectrum, I am too easily irritated. My speech reflects my awkwardness. Because I don’t always understand others, I often lack empathy. And those are just some of my most obvious failures.

Those are the ways that I most often see myself. It would be depressing if God didn’t hold a different view of me. Psalm 139:1-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” God gave me a special design and He is very pleased with it. How can I find fault with His design. On the spiritual side, God loved me enough to sacrifice His own Son so that I can live with Him eternally. I am His beloved and He delights in me. By His Spirit, He is transforming me into the image of His Son. Oh, I am not perfect, but God is always working on me to make me better. His works are wonderful.

Conflict is the order of the day on television. Politicians denigrate each other and refuse to consider the other side’s ideas. So called reality shows highlight deception, trickery, sordid scheming, and accusations. Then there is the news with its reports of violence of man against mankind.

Let’s change all that. I know, what can one person do? One person can change the environment around them. Then that change can be multiplied to the area surrounding the initially impacted environment. Let it start with you and me! For me, I will need God’s help to do this. So I am asking Him to help me; “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (II Corinthians 13:11) Join me in asking God to change us so we can be instruments of peace.

As I walked around the shopping center this morning, I noticed the very different posters displayed in neighboring stores. One store displayed pictures of models with huge smiles and a carefree appearance. The next store’s posters pictured people with very serious looks that appeared to me as scowls of arrogance.

Of course, I cannot say with any assurance what attitudes were really intended. If you look intently at the faces around you and in the media you will see the same dichotomy. Some people walk around with smiles on their faces and a carefree appearance. Others walk around with scowls on their faces and a forceful demeanor. They seem to be saying, “look at me because I am important.” We see this in sports as an athlete celebrates by pounding his chest and posing with that scowl for the camera. Music videos feature the same expression.

Of course, these are only my perceptions, but I wonder if we have gone too far with self-agrandizement. Do our facial expressions convey pride and self importance? Do our celebrations focus on our accomplishments and ignore the assistance provided by others or teammates?

Pride is a dangerous enemy. It slips in unnoticed and takes over our thoughts. It causes us to ignore the needs of others. It keeps us from acknowledging our need for God. II Corinthians 10:17-18 says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” Pride keeps us from God’s approval. Humility draws us close to Him.

I grew up in a large metropolitan area. So I don’t know much about the agricultural concerns of the area I now live in. I understand a few things simply by observation over the last several years. I learned when the farmers plant and harvest the corn. I have seen them rotate the crops from season to season. That is not much knowledge.

The people that Jesus spoke to knew a lot about farming, however. So Jesus used many illustrations about sowing seeds. From these illustrations and the authors of the New Testament we learn such truths as we can expect to reap the things we sow in our lives. If a farmer sows corn seeds, he expects to read corn. If I sow dishonesty and anger, I should expect to reap dishonesty and anger.

Paul puts it this way, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8 We cannot obtain eternal life by continuing to sow selfishness, lust, greed,and hostility. Eternal life and salvation are received only by sowing faith in Jesus by grace.

Today I discovered yet another flaw in my thinking. I have been making decisions affected by my inward belief that I am not going to live much longer. I have no idea how much longer I have, but I also have no real indication that my death is imminent. Sure, I have some health issues. Who doesn’t at age 70? But none of these issues is of serious concern right now. So why don’t I want to commit to longer term service opportunities, purchases, or involvements?

God brings new opportunities and exciting adventures each day. I miss this things when I am unwilling to think past the immediate. I don’t know whether I have tomorrow, but I do know that God has given me life now. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” I am asking God to help me live each day in the fullest by living in the power of His Spirit and by faith in His Son. If I do that, I will not miss the adventures God has for me.