Joshua 13:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.
Subject: Retirement
The above verse is my theme verse for 2016. When you get past 60 people start to look at you differently, and, if you are not careful, you start to think differently. In this chapter of Joshua we are told that God recognizes Joshua's age. In the next chapter we are told about Caleb's age. Both of them, at this time, are around 80-85 years old. But, I love the above statement from God; for what He DOESN'T say!! God does not say, "Joshua, I recognized you are old and advanced in age and you have less strength than you did in the past. Therefore, I want you to sit back and relax and draw on the social charity of those around you. I want you to retire and allow those younger than you to support you. You deserve it!! You earned it!!" God DOES NOT say those things. Instead God says, "Joshua, you are old and there is still much work to be done!!!" God is not in the business of retirement. The closest look we have for retirement in the Bible is when King David DID NOT go to war in his old age. Yet, he stayed home and designed and prepared for the temple; which would be built by his son Solomon. Even in his old age, there was work to be done. The work might change. Joshua will move from commander of the Army to City Planner of the new Kingdom. But, there is work to be done. Our society's bent on retirement and "earning" a relaxed life style is not a Biblical concept. Paul, Peter, John and anyone in the early church knew there was work to be done. The Church MUST BE built. The Kingdom MUST BE built. There is much work to be done.
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