Does the Bible endorse retirement?

"Before retirment can be discussed thoroughly, we need to define what "work" is. Is it physical labor...desk job...providing for your family, etc.?"

Generally speaking in the context of retirement it would logically be making your living no matter how you do that - even criminals retire :laugh:

"I am in the process, God willing, on doing a huge deal that may be able to take care of my family without my wife or I "working" per se in the future by living off of passive income."

Nice game if you can pull it off!

"Does one continue to work even when not needed? Wouldn't that be greed?"

One can continue to work if they want. Is it greed - well if one is greedy about money, then yes, if one is not greedy, then no. Rather depends on what you are working for and what you are doing with the proceeds.

 

Or if you do retire, use your retirement for the service of the church and others. Missions work? Work in the church? Works of mercy? All of that could be done with an early retirement.

 

That's what I would be doing. Besides joining a gym again and getting back in shape, I would like to get a degree in theology so I can keep up here on the BB :laugh:

 

Is it greedy, though, to remain in the workforce...when it is not needed? Besides, I'd be taking up an employment position for someone who really needs it.

 

I don't think it is greedy, if you are doing it for godly reasons. If you are doing it just for yourself and to accumulate more stuff, then it can be greedy.

And I don't buy the line of thinking that you staying in the work force takes away opportunity from someone else. That type of thinking is rooted in socialism that thinks our economy is a simple pie with only so many slices to go around. It's not. When people are creating, working, and being productive, it creates more jobs and opportunities for everyone else. In fact, studies show that too many early retirements among baby boomers could hamper our economy.

P.S. - I'm not accusing you of being socialist (just that line of thinking is more or less rooted in socialism). :wavey:

 

No Christian I know is knowingly a socialist.
However a lot of us have socialist tendencies that we don't even realize.

Do most people even realize what socialism is?

 

There is that word again, socialism. That has been the evil word since I was a child in the 50s. Some would say the equal distribution of goods at the church in Acts is socialism. Others would say social security is socialism. I have even heard earning a living in the military is socialism.

Yes indeedy, I want to be as far away from socialism as I can get. Say a high level executive position in an oil company or an honest wage at a mortgage company.

Seriously, my job says retirement is at 55, and that is what I am going to do in less than one year. Probably will start something new, but your work for the Lord, whatever He has called you to do, there is never a retirement date.

 

The OT has Ministers retiring at age 50 .