ODB: don’t just retire
July 22, 2010
Life takes on new meaning when we invest ourselves in others.
READ: Numbers 8:23-26
They may minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs. —Numbers 8:26
The first people to climb Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain, were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Hillary was just 33 years old. His feat afforded him fame, wealth, and the realization that he had already lived a remarkable life.
So, what did Hillary do for the next 55 years? Did he retire and rest on his laurels? Absolutely not.
Although Hillary had no higher mountains to climb, that didn’t stop him. He achieved other notable goals, including a concerted effort to improve the welfare of the Nepalese people living near Mt. Everest—a task he carried on until his death in 2008.
Did you know that God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50? (Num. 8:24-25). But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that they should “minister with their brethren . . . to attend to needs” (v.26). We cannot take this incident as a complete teaching on retirement, but we can see a godly implication that continuing to serve others after our working days are over is a good idea.
Many people find that when they retire they have nothing meaningful to do with their time. But as the Levites and Sir Edmund Hillary did, we can refocus when we retire—giving of our time to help others. —C. P. Hia
Source: Our Daily Bread
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS FeedRelated
ODB: Here Am I
May 8, 2012 READ: 1 John 3:16-23 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. —Proverbs 31:9 In the courtroom while waiting for his case to come before the judge, Gary heard story after sad story of people who were losing their homes. Many went through the procedure as [...]
ODB: Small Things
March 8, 2011 READ: John 6:4-14 There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many? —John 6:9 Skeptical about the usefulness of a small lunch, Andrew said to Jesus, “What are [these five loaves and two fish] among so many?” (John 6:9). Yet [...]
are you ready?
June 28, 2009 READ: Acts 13:1-5 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work.” —Acts 13:2 Three months before a planned missions trip, a friend and I were talking about the upcoming event. He said to me, “If anyone can’t go, [...]
ODB: remember John
November 4, 2010 READ: 2 Kings 5:1-15 Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. —2 Kings 5:15 John is a humble, uneducated man. Yet God used him to start the peace process in Mozambique. His name is not mentioned in any official documents; all he did was [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米
I am very happy to ODB on the internet.it is exciting, inspirational motivating & edifying. Keep it up,we shall all get to heaven at last. SHALOM. Sunday Adunbi.from Ekiti state,Nigeria.
This is an eye opener and inspirational.When we retire we should assist others and not stop and wait for what others should do for us.