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Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Genesis 12:4 (CSB): “So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Retirement as we know it started in 1889. According to www.tfginvest.com, the idea of retirement started when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck “decided to pay citizens aged 70 and older to leave the workforce voluntarily (in order) to stave off an uprising by young unemployed Marxists.” And the idea caught on. And now, many people look forward to retirement when they can get out of the workforce and spend a major chunk of their time and money primarily on themselves.
As we look at Scripture, we realize that the Bible never tells us of a time when we can stop working. Instead, the Bible promotes a robust work ethic even as the New Testament calls us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33).
When we look at Genesis 12:4, we realize that God didn’t call Abraham to follow Him until he was 75 years old. That’s well past the current American age of retirement. It would be another 25 years before Abraham had Isaac, the child of promise. Then, he went on to live for another 75 years.
While you and I have no chance at all of living to be 175 years old, the age of Abraham’s calling is significant. At 75, Abraham could have thought that all of his best years were behind him. He could have wasted away as he sat in his chair watching the world go by. Instead, he realized that God had a purpose for Him even in his old age. It is noteworthy that everything worth mentioning about Abraham’s life occurred after his 75th birthday.
Are you living at least a reasonably active life on purpose? Are you living your life intentionally for Jesus, or are you looking forward to retirement, or settling into that phase of your life? I want to encourage you to find at least one thing that you can do for the Lord and others, regardless of your age, and then do that to the best of your ability. Don’t slide into home plate in your older years. Yes, there will probably come a time when your body and/or mind can no longer keep up with your desire to serve and work in the Kingdom. But don’t stop until that time comes. Don’t stop running the race set before you (Hebrews 12:1) until you cross the finish line.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me life and the experiences I have enjoyed. Thank You for using me at various times to assist the growth and progress of the Kingdom in my family, my church, my community, and beyond. But please help me never to think that my work for You is done. Help me to stay busy for You until I can no longer do so. The gift of life and eternal life that You have given to me demand that I be a good steward of them and make the most of them. Help me in this. I pray in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 