What's My Next Job?

As many of you know I recently retired. I have been busy looking for things to do. Reading books, working on making a workshop for Barb and I, riding a little, fishing alot and generally trying to stay busy. Sometimes, I find myself sitting and thinking about things. Sermons that need written, studying some biblical history, watching some shows on biblical history, working on a book I started years ago and didn't finish. One of the books I have read is a book titled, Retiring with Jesus by Ben A. Collingstone. He has some pretty profound and practical ideas. One thing he says which has hit me is: "Aging doesn't mean God has forgotten you."

As I re-evaluate where and what I will be doing over the next several years of my life, I try to make sense of what I have done and what I would like to have done differently in the course of my life. As a parent there are things I could have done better. As a worker, I there are things I could have done better. As a rider, I could have learned some better technique. As a pastor, I should have learned more biblical history and taken some bible courses. I actually looked into a Dmin program for older students,

but the cost has me reluctant. When I was a student, did I work enough at learning or did I skate through it. Did I serve Christ the way He wanted or did I hold back and do only what I wanted and what was easy. How many people could I have impacted for the Lord had I just done more of what He wanted? Would I be a better guitar player had I learned some technique earlier. Now that my fingers are older and stiffer, can I even get better?

Paul often talks about renewing the mind, looking ahead, reaching for the high calling of Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 3:10, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23-24, Titus 3:5). There are plenty of examples of God's people doing amazing things later in their lives. Reinventing oneself in the ministry of Christ doesn't mean we have to be young or for that matter even ready for what God has in store. It doesn't mean waiting for retirement or holding off till I we do all that other stuff, we feel we have to do at an earlier age. "Reinventing" means being open to the possiblities He wants us to explore. Being able to say, "yes" rather than "no." Being willing to accept the challenges before us. Joshua 1:9: Focuses on being strong and courageous because God is with you. Psalm 56:3: Encourages trusting in God when fear arises. 

I think we sometimes hold back on doing what God wants when we start thinking about the things we need to do first, but following God is really lifelong work in our life. It doesn't mean wait until you are free or ready, it means stepping up and doing it when you are called. So as we get to the second half of this year, I suggest we look for what God has in store for us next year. Does He want you to go on a missionary trip next year. It may impact next year's vacation time and may mean some budget planning or fund raising. It may mean some deep and soulful prayer asking "what is next for me." Does He want us to take a class of some kind to prepare us for some mission down the road. Does it mean stretching your current skills so that you can do something better because there is a plan. Does it mean using our current skills in a different place to help someone else. Does it mean spending a week with Habitat for Humanity building a home. Does it mean volunteering at a shelter or homeless mission. Does it mean that we give up some time rather than our money. Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Sometimes people don't need our money, they need our time, our compassion or they need to borrow our hope and faith to strengthen where they are at this point in their life. Maybe a child needs us to teach them how to play a game or sing a song or just be loved. Retirement isn't necessary to do those things. Willingness to give up something for ourselves is necessary.

Don't look back and say, "I wish I had done that mission trip to Brazil, I wish I had done that week of home building with Habitat, I wish I had taken that class because now I could do more of what I think God wants. I wish I had taught my family about service to the homeless by working at the shelter, feeding the poor or working at a summer camp for a week with kids who needed some help." My father once told me that when he felt called to the ministry, his pastor at the time told him, "you have less than 8 years to retire from the military. Stay in the service and prepare for the ministry after that. Your retirement will be of help." He stayed in and entered the ministry full time after his retirement but he began preparing for that while he was still serving his country, speaking, learning and preparing for his next job.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14-  "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Let us look to the future now rather than later. Regrets are in the past and cannot be changed but hopes are for the future and can change ours and another's life. Let's begin to pray fervently, "God, what's next?"