Deuteronomy 34:5, So Moses… died. Even at age 120, Moses never retired; he died with his boots on continuing in the spiritual mission that YHVH had given him. Retirement, as in sitting around doing little or nothing productive once one has reached a certain age, is not a biblical concept. Yeshua instructed his saints were to occupy until he returns (Luke 19:13). Elsewhere, Paul tells the followers of Yeshua to stand (not sit) as they battle against the forces of darkness (Eph 6:14). Moreover, the Bible characterizes the spiritual journey heavenward of the child of Elohim as a walk, not sit and do little or nothing. The concept of retirement as it is commonly meant in our modern culture is a recent one, and not a biblical one as I discuss in the article below.
Where is retirement mentioned in the Bible?
Here is a challenge. Show me in the Bible where the word retirement or the concept is even mentioned? Retirement as it is commonly understood to mean ceasing to work and doing little or nothing after a certain age is not to be found from one end of the Bible to the other. What the word of Elohim teaches, however, it that we are to work six days each week and to rest on the seventh day (the Sabbath or Shabbat, Exod 20:8–11). Moreover, it is clearly evident that because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the Creator told us that the “free lunch” had ended and we had to get to work (Gen 3:17–19). What does this mean for you and me if we claim to be Bible followers—especially after we reach the age where due to health and age regular physical work may be a challenge?
Only in our overindulgent, materialistic and wealthy western society is retirement an option.
For many who are lacking in a spiritual faith and who have no concept of biblical truth, retirement has become their “heaven on earth.” Retirement, in fact, is a sort of humanists’ heaven on earth until one dies and goes back into the soil.
Admittedly, as one becomes elderly, the body doesn’t function as it once did. But that doesn’t mean one has to resort to a life of inert, non-productive inactivity. For example, in ancient Israel, when the Levites reached the age of fifty, they presumably took on more of an advisory role in helping to train the next generation of Levites (Num 8:25). This rule didn’t, however, apply to those in the priesthood who served until death. The kings and prophets and prophets of Israel served until their death as well. Moses never retired and served YHVH and the Israelites until age 120! Neither did Joshua, David or the apostles retire from the ministry. As they grew older, they likely slowed down, but they never retired to life on a golf course, or sitting in front of the television watching old re-runs of Western movies or the daytime soap operas and game shows. No! They all died with their boots on doing YHVH’s work.
Once we reach a certain age where hard physical labor becomes impractical or even impossible, we are faced with two choices: we can rust out or burn out. Like an automobile or piece of equipment, it can sit there rust away inactively, or it can be used until the engine wears out. Wouldn’t you rather burn out then rust out? Similarly, Yeshua commended the wise servants in the Parable of the Talents for being profitable with the talents the master had given them while he was away in a far country. Conversely, the master sternly rebuked the servant who did nothing but bury his talents in the soil (Luke 19:11–27).
Moreover, the elders (wise and older people) were to serve as leaders of the congregational assembly in the New Testament era. To be sure, the older generation was busy during their so-called retirement years.
These things being the case, why is it that so many Bible followers and even supposedly Torah-obedient individuals don’t work six days a week, but stop working when they reach a certain age and acquiesce to the concept of what our humanistic society calls “retirement age”? Similarly, why do so many woman support their husbands, who proudly laud their new status as “house husbands”? Why are there so many men on welfare feigning a disability, so they can collect a check from the government, when, for many of them, there is something they could do to help support their families, but instead, they proudly live off the labors of others? In reality they’re lazy bums—thieves! This is hardly a godly virtue. Unless is bed-ridden due to severe health issues, there is something everyone can do to be a profitable servant rather than a lazy couch potato bum.
Even those who have worked hard and have the financial resources to be able to “retire” at a certain age, is it biblical to resort to a life of laziness and self-indulgent ease? Hardly! The biblical model is for the older folks to be using their resources including their time, knowledge and wisdom to help others—especially the younger generation. Kudos to those who are doing so. Shame on those who aren’t!
Sadly, we have become a society of lazy bums all too often living off of the labor of and resources of others. Is this something to be proud of? If this is our lifestyle, do we really think we will hear YHVH’s words on the day of judgment, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?
First, it can be argued that humans were not initially creates to “till and labour” but to enjoy life till Adam & Eve ate of the forbidden tree.
Might i suggest that you go back to “B’reshis. Genesis 3 outlines the curse of Adam and Eve and how “hard work and labour till death” was not the original intention.
There are many traditions, practices and human derived or originates cultural norma that are NOT biblical.
There are things you engage in that is not biblical. And the list is long. I bet the clothes you are wearing now is of hybrid fabrics, thats against TORAH actually!!!
Additionally, Many things practiced in the scriptures were product of the culture and norm of the people at that time!
Doesn’t mean we should all aspire affix all our lives to the culture of the ancient biblical times.
If people can afford to retire from hustle and bustle of life to slow down to enjoy life ( as it was meant to be), then, by all means, go ahead.
It is clear that you missed the whole point of what I was trying to say and reinterpreted it in terms of Western values and standards rather than those of the Bible. If this is how you want to view the Bible, then that is your choice. I am not your judge. I merely attempt to preach and teach the Truth of the Bible, and many people do not want to accept that, since it messes with the little apple carts and paradigms of their belief systems that run contrary to the Bible. I am simply the messenger—the mailman, if you will. If people don’t like what the messenger has to say, it because they don’t like the message as well as the Originator of the message. That’s all. Be blessed.
Be sure to record your thoughts when you are eighty years old and perhaps in poor health on the subject of working.
Even when we’re too old to work physically, we can still be doing the spiritual work of YHVH. We can be praying. We can be interceding. We can be teaching our children and grandchildren the ways of Truth. This is doing the work of the Father to which Yeshua himself makes reference. The concept of work has many ramifications and implications both on the physical and spiritual levels. What I see too many people doing when they reach a certain place in their life is they check out. Many people become narcissistic and self-serving as they mainly fulfill ego-centric and self-gratifying passions. This is not what the saints of the Most High were put on earth to do. Our Lord and Master told us to occupy until he comes back. What more needs to the said on this?
Num 8:24-26
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. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
The Levites who were released from the work in the temple either stayed on to help educating the young Levites or went back to their family property to work their small holdings and teach the folks in their community about Godly living. I don’t think they received a special retirement payment but lived on what the community provided for them, as God had instituted.
Amein.
Shalom Dear Natan,
the concept of not retiring to entire self indulgence is correct. The wisdom of years should be passed on.
A lot of our society is expressly engineered to exclude older folk from continuing contributing deliberately. Actual Wisdom is a great danger to the ideas of darkness.
The idea of storing away in Summer like the ant for Winter also is about being prepared for harder times where there is lack. Aging can produce lack in our mental and physical acuity when there is a Winter in our lives.
I thought David did retire from his Kingship? Having Schlomo announced & annointed as King at the behest of Bathsheba & Nathan by Zadok the priest to avoid this faction being executed by keeping his earlier vow.
Adonijah was holding a feast with all his supporters to be crowned king on his own cognisance at that very time.
Many blessings.
Praise our King Yeshua.
FJ
At age 70 + have I not reached my Shabbat years and entered into his rest?
I guess not!
Shalom, John
I tend to think that you’re not one to be sitting around rocking your life away on your front porch even at age 70. Don’t you have land and a small farm to look after?
Almost every day, I work in a wealthy retirement community where many of the people just sit around, or golf every day. I really respect those, on the other hand, along with their play time, are also volunteering in the community and sharing their wisdom and knowledge with others. That is work!
It could be interesting to find out when and why governments have invented the idea of paying ‘old age pensions’.
Perhaps, the family unit, as God had designed it, was no longer able or willing to care for their ‘oldies’. Maybe, the governments were embarrassed to have unwell, old folks begging in the streets while the country as a whole had a very high standard of living.
It has become quite obvious, that the adversary is trying to undermine the family structure to oppose Elohim and leave us vulnerable to the whims of governments. Women are being discouraged to raise their children and instead hand them over to government institutions to indoctrinate them as early as possible.
Many young people do not credit older people with wisdom, worthwhile listening to; instead, they believe THEY have all knowledge and understanding which has put this world into the mess we are in now. Common sense is a dying art nowadays. Recently, a ‘highly educated’ woman accused our former PM of being a racist which according to her was evidenced by the fact that he preferred white bread!
You can’t make it up.
Shalom to all of the saints,
Sonja
Excellent observations. I agree.