IS RETIREMENT BIBLICAL?
By Frank E. Fain PhD
“But at age fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no more.”
Numbers 8:25 NIV
Since retirement is a modern concept some Bible Believing Baptist may ask “Is there a Biblical basis for retirement?”
Some Christians feel retirement is not biblical. These folk often cite Paul’s warning against idleness found in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14 specifically verse 10 “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” The context of this passage does not support the interpretation that it speaks against retirement.
Some Thessalonica Christians were so confident in Jesus’ return that they quit working and were living off the labors of other believers. In this passage Paul was addressing this abuse of the benevolent ministry of the early church. He instructed that benevolence is to be provided to the truly needing. Able body persons who can work should not receive benevolent care from the church but rather they must work to provide for their own needs. In its context this passage speaks more to the work ethics of believers rather than retirement.
The Bible does in fact refer to retirement directly and from the Bible we can draw some principles for retirement.
The most direct and clear passage about retirement is Numbers 8: 23 – 26. In this passage Moses tells the Levites to begin their work at age twenty-five “but at age 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 Meetings, but they themselves must not do the work.” (25 – 26 NIV)
What was the “regular work” of the Levites? The regular work was the carrying and setting up of the Tabernacle for worship. It was a very labor intensive task to transport and set up the large tent, the exterior walls, various alters, furnishings and the Ark of the Covenant that were essential to Israelite’s worship.
Moses established the principle that at an age when physical strength declines (around age fifty in that era) a Levite would be exempt from the heavy labor related to the Tabernacle. But notice a Levite could and many did, continue to lead worship, provided wise counsel and leadership. In a sense they could continue to serve as elder statesmen, mentors and consultants to the younger Levites still working.
Although Moses’ instructions applied only to the Levites in this passage we find the principle that one can “retire” from one’s regular tasks or occupation. It is okay for Christian after many years of hard work at their occupation to retire from the daily grind and enjoy life.
Notice that in these instructions we also find the principle that in retirement we are not to “retreat” from community activities but continue to be active and engaged. The “retired” Levites did not totally disengage from leadership roles and their faith community. Neither should we in our retirement.
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