Retired Retirees

Many of the Lord's people look forward to retirement and plan in the Lord's will to be involved in the service of the Lord to a greater degree than previously. Many are realizing this desire of their heart and are seeing God's blessing upon their labors in the service God has laid to their hands.

However, many of God's people are really "retired retirees." Looking back over a busy life in business or industry, they feel they have worked hard for many years and now intend to take it easy, so they set their plans for a way of life to their liking and to which they feel entitled.

Fellow retiree, can we withhold from Him service to which He is entitled? Is there not a service we can render to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us? Are we not debtors to His mercy, grace, and love? David said, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me" (Psalm 116:12). Paul said to the Corinthians, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you" (2 Corinthians 12:15). Again Paul said, "I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also" (Romans 1:14,15). There was no retirement with Paul! He desired fruit in his old age.

We sometimes sing but do we mean it? "Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all." When one considers the vast army of Christian retirees, both men and women, who are wellequipped to be "workers together" with Him and also the tremendous need that exists for the Word of God to be made known, will we not dedicate ourselves to "by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22).

If we have settled down to be a "retired retiree," will we not again hear the voice of the Lord of the vineyard saying, "Go work in my vineyard." The fields are ripe unto harvest and the laborers are few.

by W. G. McCartney