In John 12:26, Jesus states, “…and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” Service is a mainstay of Christianity. God has called on us to serve in any way we can, despite differing strengths and abilities. Your retirement is the perfect time to focus on your Christ-centered service, after the pressures of taking care of your work, home, and family have lifted. Here are tips for following God’s call in your golden years:
Balance Work and Rest
Retirement is not meant to mean limitless leisure. Idleness is not part of the divine plan. Even before sin, God told Adam and Eve to work in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:28). Leviticus 23:3 gives humans a pattern to live by: lifelong labor with periodic times for rest. God’s own work during the Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3) models this pattern, with six days of work and the seventh day of rest. This rhythm of labor and rest should continue into retirement, serving Christ in lieu of working on a career or providing for family. Strike a balance of work and rest instead of only the latter.
Set Goals
The lack of heaving deadlines, benchmarks, and goals in retirement can lead to lethargy, lack of motivation, and unhappiness. Make goals with your service to Christ, such as volunteering a certain number of hours per week or raising a certain amount of money at your church’s next fundraiser. Setting goals for yourself in your mission to serve God can inspire you to work harder, give you something to look forward to, and give you a sense of accomplishment.
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