Those unfamiliar with the Christian Scriptures often think the Bible is full of rules and regulations. They expect to find in it a series of propositions and imperatives. However, the truth is the most common type of literature in the Bible is narrative. As Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart write, "Narratives are stories--purposeful stories retelling the historical events of the past that are intended to give meaning and direction for a given people in the present" (How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 90). As stories the narrative type of biblical text can capture the imagination as the plot unfolds. Readers can identify with characters. Indeed, like all stories biblical narratives have the same features of a narrator, scenes, characters, a plot, and dialogue. However as Fee and Stuart note, "A crucial difference between biblical narratives and all others...[is they are] inspired by the Holy Spirit...[and] the story they tell is not so much our story as it is God's story–and it becomes ours as he 'writes' us into it (90)."
Narratives are particularly common in the Old Testament. In fact, over 40 percent of the Old Testament is narrative. Numerous Old Testament books are largely or completely narrative. Among them is the compelling book of Ruth. Ruth is a wonderfully crafted narrative that is full of irony, realistic characters, a dramatic act of redemption, and a surprise ending. I am excited about presenting Ruth as a message series to our church (FBC, Lake Wales) in February. I will present a chapter each week since each chapter is essentially a scene unto itself. I will read it with comments of application along the way to make this ancient story relevant to your life. There are many life-changing truths to highlight as we follow the engaging narrative. I hope you will come eager to learn from the Spirit and Living Word of God. You might even consider inviting someone you know who enjoys a good story. For Ruth is that--and so much more!
Loving the Lord & His written revelation!
Pastor Scott
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Rethinking Retirement
Economics, a longer life span, and the enjoyment of work are keeping more senior adults in the work force than there has been in decades. Earlier this month Laura Vanderkam wrote an article for USA Today discussing the changing views of retirement in America. She reported:
After decades of decline, the labor force participation rate among people older than 65 rose from a low of 10.7% in 1987 to more than 17% now. Nearly a third of those ages 65-69 are working or looking for work, up from less than 20% in the 1980s, and surveys of Baby Boomers find that many don't intend to retire immediately either.
This reality has potential benefits and challenges for the individual senior adult and for American society as a whole. Yet what many of this generation forget is that the concept of retirement is of rather recent origins. Most historians trace it back to Otto von Bismarck’s social changes in Germany during the late 19th Century. When President Franklin Roosevelt introduced Social Security to this country in the 1930s, life expectancy (at birth) was 58 for men and 62 for women. Now more men and women live to age 65 and many live to 85. This means retirement will last for decades for some. While that may sound pleasurable, with continual cost of living increases and increasing medical expenses it can make living 20 years without a paycheck a frightening prospect. At the national level the increased life expectancy of Americans is straining the Social Security System in ways unforeseen by Roosevelt or others.
Of course, another reason more senior adults are delaying retirement is because they simply enjoy their job and are under no pressure to retire. Still others are now re-entering the work force in what some are referring to as ‘encore careers’—work that is less demanding, flexible in hours, and directly adds value to the lives of others. Such careers are said to offer a little needed income and can add purpose to life.
Well, as a pastor I read this and I recognize that this is a scenario that has remarkable redemptive potential for the kingdom of God. What better way to add value to the lives of others than to serve them in Jesus’ Name? I think of all the untapped ministry potential that exists within the current generation of senior adults and of the Baby Boomers right on their heels. Imagine if those able to retire did so only to engage in an ‘encore career’ through the local church. Yes, some might invest their time to keep up the facilities, assist in office work, and staff existing church activities–all as volunteers! Others can organize ministry to church members that are now homebound or in healthcare facilities. Yet others could offer leadership and service in new ministry initiatives that would take the church into the community. They could start tutoring programs, read Christian children’s books in elementary schools, lead food pantries and clothing closets, or lead ministries to internationals who tend to more highly regard older adults than most Americans do. The list of possibilities seems limited only by the vision and passion of the retiree’s. I thank God that quite a few in our church are already investing their retirement years in some of these ministries. I pray that God would continue to give our retiring adults a vision for and commitment to kingdom work during their retirement years.
It all makes sense doesn’t it? Clearly, the Scriptures dignify work as being of the Lord. Since Adam worked before the sinful Fall of humanity we cannot claim work is an accursed result of the Fall. Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Likewise the Scriptures speak well of being “full of years”. A long life is seen as a blessing from the biblical point of view. Nowhere does Scripture suggest our latter years be used for leisure as the modern American view of retirement does. Rather, useful service to the Lord until we are physically unable or the Lord calls us home seems to be the biblical picture given.
So whether you are in retirement or looking forward to it I urge you to re-think how you might spend those years. As Al Mohler has written on this subject, “There is room in the Christian life for leisure, but not for a life devoted to leisure.” May your view of retirement and mine be more shaped by Scripture than culture! May we not spend those last years on trivialities, but invest them in lasting kingdom work!
Seeking first His Kingdom!
Pastor Scott
After decades of decline, the labor force participation rate among people older than 65 rose from a low of 10.7% in 1987 to more than 17% now. Nearly a third of those ages 65-69 are working or looking for work, up from less than 20% in the 1980s, and surveys of Baby Boomers find that many don't intend to retire immediately either.
This reality has potential benefits and challenges for the individual senior adult and for American society as a whole. Yet what many of this generation forget is that the concept of retirement is of rather recent origins. Most historians trace it back to Otto von Bismarck’s social changes in Germany during the late 19th Century. When President Franklin Roosevelt introduced Social Security to this country in the 1930s, life expectancy (at birth) was 58 for men and 62 for women. Now more men and women live to age 65 and many live to 85. This means retirement will last for decades for some. While that may sound pleasurable, with continual cost of living increases and increasing medical expenses it can make living 20 years without a paycheck a frightening prospect. At the national level the increased life expectancy of Americans is straining the Social Security System in ways unforeseen by Roosevelt or others.
Of course, another reason more senior adults are delaying retirement is because they simply enjoy their job and are under no pressure to retire. Still others are now re-entering the work force in what some are referring to as ‘encore careers’—work that is less demanding, flexible in hours, and directly adds value to the lives of others. Such careers are said to offer a little needed income and can add purpose to life.
Well, as a pastor I read this and I recognize that this is a scenario that has remarkable redemptive potential for the kingdom of God. What better way to add value to the lives of others than to serve them in Jesus’ Name? I think of all the untapped ministry potential that exists within the current generation of senior adults and of the Baby Boomers right on their heels. Imagine if those able to retire did so only to engage in an ‘encore career’ through the local church. Yes, some might invest their time to keep up the facilities, assist in office work, and staff existing church activities–all as volunteers! Others can organize ministry to church members that are now homebound or in healthcare facilities. Yet others could offer leadership and service in new ministry initiatives that would take the church into the community. They could start tutoring programs, read Christian children’s books in elementary schools, lead food pantries and clothing closets, or lead ministries to internationals who tend to more highly regard older adults than most Americans do. The list of possibilities seems limited only by the vision and passion of the retiree’s. I thank God that quite a few in our church are already investing their retirement years in some of these ministries. I pray that God would continue to give our retiring adults a vision for and commitment to kingdom work during their retirement years.
It all makes sense doesn’t it? Clearly, the Scriptures dignify work as being of the Lord. Since Adam worked before the sinful Fall of humanity we cannot claim work is an accursed result of the Fall. Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Likewise the Scriptures speak well of being “full of years”. A long life is seen as a blessing from the biblical point of view. Nowhere does Scripture suggest our latter years be used for leisure as the modern American view of retirement does. Rather, useful service to the Lord until we are physically unable or the Lord calls us home seems to be the biblical picture given.
So whether you are in retirement or looking forward to it I urge you to re-think how you might spend those years. As Al Mohler has written on this subject, “There is room in the Christian life for leisure, but not for a life devoted to leisure.” May your view of retirement and mine be more shaped by Scripture than culture! May we not spend those last years on trivialities, but invest them in lasting kingdom work!
Seeking first His Kingdom!
Pastor Scott
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