I Chronicles 20:1
“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.”
David was a warrior king. As a shepherd, he slew a lion and a bear. When he was delivering lunch to his brothers at war, he heard Goliath’s taunt and answered it. He was a young warrior in Saul’s army. He got the reputation for killing 10,000’s.
Today’s passage shows him staying home. This is curious to me, as this was who he was. I would have thought they couldn’t have kept him home. I’m going to take a personal view of this. My age and number of years working tells me that I should retire. However, I love what I do and enjoy who I work with. I can’t imagine not working.
Pastor Chuck Smith didn’t believe in retirement. He worked up until his end. His last message was on a Sunday and he passed away on a Thursday. I’ve heard that John Piper also has the same view. I understand scaling back or mixing up the activities. But I can’t imagine stopping.
I work an 80% contract, so I have more time. I know what it’s like to have too much free time. I start to feel guilty when this happens. I begin to force myself to do things. Sometimes willingly, sometimes not. This is uncomfortable. Part of me fears it. It’s a throwback to my early years as a christian. I had much guilt. I feel like retirement will plunge me into that.
I am feeling pressure to retire as funds have been mismanaged at my workplace and two or three of my coworkers will be let go. Two of those three have asked me when I would retire. Other coworkers have suggested that. It’s been uncomfortable. I feel God wants me to stay and ride out this storm.
We will learn that David’s staying home got him into trouble. He did learn his lesson and almost always fought. He did it at such an old age that his soldiers forced him to stay out of the fierce combat.
Lord, give me wisdom about work and retirement. Thank You for my amazing job and my students and the respect they give.