I once heard John Piper describe the American retirement this way... "Look God, my seashell collection." Here was his point. So many Americans think those last years on the planet should be spent in some tropic paradise collecting sea shells by the seashore. They work hard for 30 years so that they might play hard until they die. They give their time to the unions and companies, so that they might self-indulge later in life.
Yet, is retirement even biblical? How are we as Christians suppose to view such a readily accepted concept? Today's reading seems to give some merit to the idea. "But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more" (Numbers 8:25). This verse was in reference to the Levitical priesthood. After serving 25 years in the temple, they were to "retire" from their posts; they might assist their brothers, but they themselves were not to do any of the work.
Why does God call for this? (I can not pretend to know God's mind at this point.) But why would a company, or church, place age restrictions on work? To this end, I can attempt a response. There seem to me some practical reasons one might consider such limits on service.
First, as we age our bodies change... We are not as strong as we once were. We are not as agile as we used to be. For some, the mind has begun to slip a bit. These things contribute to a reduction in performance, efficiency, and safety. One who was once a great asset to his company, may now only hinder it as his abilities wane. We have all seen the person who tries to hold on too long and watched as everyone around them suffered for it.
Second, God removes the aging priests with the implication that there will be younger priests to replace them. In the market place, I think we see people hang on to their posts too long and in so doing, do not allow the younger generation to rightfully take their place in service. Passing the torch can be a scary thing. Will they do it as well as you did? Will they care as much as you cared? Will they give all that you gave to make the company successful? The facts are unknown. But one thing is for sure, you can't do it forever. The torch will either be passed, or dropped when you can run no further.
Third, just because one retires does not mean they are useless. Quite the contrary is often true. Their insights and understanding are the resources a company may utilize as the transitions are made and new decisions are faced. But the energy and passion necessary for implementing those next steps are provided by the younger generation. As one gets older, the energy to affect change dwindles. Change and movement is hard, it often takes fresh minds and fresh bodies.
So what has all that to do for the Christian? Should we retire also? For many it is a no-brainer! In fact, you are already counting down until the magical day when you qualify for it. In my opinion, retirement from a "job" is fine. I think retirement from vocational ministry is also fine (the very same reasons I gave above apply in the church as well).
One of the largest churches in America, Southeast Christian in Louisville, has it written in its by-laws that a senior pastor must retire at 65. The new pastor of the church, Dave Stone, knew he would be filling the position for several years before Bob Russell left the post. The oversight of a ministry is not for the faint of heart. To lead thousands, or hundreds, or even tens of people takes a lot of energy and stamina, ...just ask your pastor. The pastor who stays too long not only wears out himself, but his congregation also. A set date is not such a bad idea. God set one for His ministers. Service in the temple wasn't easy, even physically; remembering all the sacrificial code, handling all the animals, being visited by so many people.
The real questions surrounding retirement are, "From what are we to retire?" and "What are we to be doing afterwards?" Here we can look to people like the apostle John or Paul. Both these men died of "natural" causes. Both had thriving ministries overseeing churches and missionary journeys. Both never stopped sharing the gospel. But both ended up, though for reasons out of their control, confined in later years. Yet they continued to do whatever they could for the furtherment of the gospel. Both Paul and John wrote canonical letters during these years, and so though they were not overseeing the Church in Jerusalem or Ephesus or on long trips evangelizing, still they were profitable for God.
John Piper's comments above point to America's worthless retirement. Can you image standing before God having used the last ten or twenty plus years of your life collecting seashells? Retirement is a unique time where obligations which tied you down have been loosed. It holds some of the most free moments of our existence. Shouldn't those opportunities best be used to do ministry? I am not talking about full-time vocational ministry... but the volunteering, serving, and caring that we so desperately need in the community of believers. It is a time to pour ourselves into the next generation, to watch after the needs of the body, etc.
Retirement in self-indulgence is vanity. Even then, people will not be satisfied. We must never forget that we were bought with a price... and we must serve Him however we can for as long as He gives us breath. There is no greater calling than this. There is no greater retirement that can out-satisfy this. For there is no such thing as retirement from being a Christian. It is who we are to the grave, and beyond.
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