The Christian Is Always Employed
Many people look forward to retirement. We retire from our jobs so we can relax, play, do what we want. Yet, isn’t so much of life about work? The Bible says there is a time to work and a time to play (Eccl 3:1), but it is to be interwoven with the other activities in each stage of life. After all, if anyone could have been considered ‘retired’ and comfortable, it would have been Adam in the Garden of Eden. Even there, however, God gave Adam work to do (Gen 1:28; 2:15).
It seems that the Lord will give us work to do after we die and are with Him. This seems implied in our still being termed ‘servants’ (Rev 22:3) and by the example of the holy angels who, as His servants, are given tasks to do (Heb 1:14). For instance, in Rev 16:5 (NAB) God put an angel in charge of the waters.
We should not seek to avoid work but to work and serve as He wants. Christians are even described as those who serve God under the prompting, guidance, and empowerment of His Spirit (Phil 3:3, TNIV with ASB note). Thus, not working and not serving should be foreign to us. Work is not to consume us where it is all we do. God Himself rested one day a week (Ex 20:11). Though there may be seasons of busyness and seasons of rest, God normally wants us to live balanced lives. For the Christian, retirement from a job must still include being habitually filled with or directed by God’s Spirit (Eph 5:18) – and His Spirit will lead us to serve so people are helped with God’s kingdom being furthered.
Comforting others is costly but worth it.