It’s time for a retirement revolution.
What is your view of retirement? What will it look like for you? Let me guess. It’s a time when you get to focus on yourself. This will be the chapter of life when you get to do whatever you want. At last, life will be all about you. Finally you will get to spend your kids’ inheritance as you cruise the Caribbean or lay by the pool.
Is this really how you want to spend the last chapter of life; by becoming self-centered?
Our culture is saturated with this kind of thinking about retirement. I am sick of it. It’s revolting. And it is contrary to what I see in the Bible.
Karl Marx proclaimed religion was the opiate of the masses. He believed religion led people down the wrong path and gave them a false sense of security and euphoria. I disagree with Marx but his view on religion is my view on retirement. The promise of retirement is the new opiate of the masses. Our cultural view of retirement lures people into thinking now is the time to become self-centered because it is what you are suppose to do. The prospects of retirement gives a false sense of euphoria and security.
I’m starting a retirement revolution. Retirement is a stupid idea. This stupid idea is being taught everywhere and swallowed up by Baby Boomers faster than they popped pills in the 60s.
Here’s my challenge to you. Check out what the Bible says about retirement. Go ahead. I double dog dare you. Tell me. What did you find? The only passage you might point to is in Numbers and deals with members of the tribe of Levi who are not to work in the Temple after the age of 50. This is NOT dealing with retirement but cultic practices. But that’s it. Nothing else.
This means the Bible has more to say about menstruating women and how to slaughter sacrificial animals than it does retirement.
If you are a Bible student you will recognize there is much in it which teaches the exact opposite of our view of retirement. We are challenged to finish the course (Acts 20:24) and reminded the righteous “still bear fruit in old age.” (Ps. 92:14) The Bible is filled with “don’t quit” and “keep on going.”
We need a grassroots revolution against the conventional view of retirement. I’m only one blade of grass. But I invite you to join me. As you near retirement age, plan on living more of life, not less.