Let's overturn these tables

I was talking with a friend recently and he mentioned someone we both knew who had recently retired. He said the retiree was playing a lot of golf and organising social activities for other seniors in his church.

It made me think.

Retirees who are healthy and have time could be wonderful workers for the kingdom of God.

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Retirement is a big deal

In Australia, most people retire from full time work sometime before they turn 70. And having an adequate retirement income is a major concern for most people. Type “retirement” into your search engine and you’ll likely find (in Australia at least) dozens of pages selling retirement plans, advising how much money you’ll need for a good retirement, or giving you advice on how to retire well.

So retirement is a big deal.

What to do in retirement

Statistics show that people who retire in their 60s can expect on average to live another 20-23 years. How will they spend that time?

Retireees are often urged to keep fit, travel and take up new hobbies and pastimes. Volunteering is encouraged as a way to give back to the community and to have a more fulfilling retirement.

Do christians ever retire?

So do we also retire from active christianity when we hit 70?

Some christians seem to see it that way, but for others, retirement is an opportunity to give more time to christian service.

I don’t see anywhere in scripture or in Jesus’ teaching that suggests we can retire from the kingdom of God!

What can retirees do?

Retirement is a time for christians to volunteer, as long as they are able.

There are plenty of opportunities to serve in secular organisations that care for vulnerable people or those with special needs.

• Driving less mobile people to shopping or medical appointments.
• Helping out at drop-in centres or charity shops.
• Visiting sick people in hospital, or being a companion for someone unable to leave their home.
• Helping prepare or deliver meals to people unable to prepare food for themselves.
• Helping a new immigrant with language and adjusting to culture.

There’s many more possibilities – just check online or in newspapers.

Christian service

All of those ways of serving are loving our neighbours, as Jesus commanded us to do. But there are also opportunities for specifically christian service:

• Many churches run ministries such as drop-in centres, and providing grocery parcels, school equipment, etc, for those in need.
• Many younger people would benefit from having older mentors and friends. Teens in non-christian families, or who have lost a parent, or are struggling in some way may particularly benefit.
• Helping teens and twenties grapple with difficult faith questions via non-judghmental listening and discussion.
• Assisting at church-run childcare and playgroups – I know of one church that has a “grandmother” assigned to every playgroup.
• Perhaps your youthgroup needs someone to help out in the kitchen.
• A large church in London has a training course so suitable retirees can be part of church planting teams.
• Grandparents can take an interest in their grandchildren and perhaps help them spritually in different ways than the parents can.

It needs preparation ….

These things can happen spontaneously, but will happen more with a little planning.

• Churches can set up programs to explain the value of retirees serving and offering training and support for them to get going. Volunteering is known to be one of the most fulfilling activities, and volunteering will likely help people live longer.
• It is much harder to suddenly switch on the serving in these ways. So adults should be prepared for service opportunities in retirement by being offered opportunities before they retire. It will be much easier for an older person to mentor someone much younger if they have already built relationships with youth or young adults.

Churches need to take the lead in motivating, training and providing opportunities for older christians to serve in these ways.

…. and willingness

But preparation will count for little if retirees aren’t willing. Creating a culture of serving will help, but peope have to be willing.

This willingness starts when we’re younger. That is the time to identify our gifts and how they can be used for the kingdom of God. This is the time to commit ourselves to serving, whether it is easy or not.

But it may be that a person retires from a busy business life where they have had less time than they’d like to spend with their grandchildren. Retirement can become an opportunity to get to know grandchildren and be available to be a spiritual elder to them.

Jesus said (Matthew 6:33): “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be given to you as well.”

How productive it would be if we all resolved to serve as long as we are able and not just spend our retirement playing golf!

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Photo:  Kawê Rodrigues

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