Retirement in the Bible.

The biblical concept of Retirement.

The concept of retirement in the Bible is limited to those that served in the Temple, the Levites. Apart from that, man was expected to work until they die or become disabled. Very often, when a disable person did not have a family with the means to support him, disability resulted in begging for alms.

It is in that situation that we find the blind, the paralytics, and the handicaps, like the one in the Temple:

Acts 3:2–6 NASB95

And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Act 3:2-6

There was not such thing as Disability or Social Security Administration!

But the Lord gave specific instructions regarding retirement for the Levites:

Num 8:23-26

Numbers 8:23–26 NASB95

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting. “But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more. “They may, however, assist their brothers in the tent of meeting, to keep an obligation, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites concerning their obligations.”

Why only about the Levites? We must remember:

They were not included in the distribution of the land.

They depended on the tithes and offerings from the people.

As a consequence, they could not become wealthy.

Requirements:

They could not enter to serve if they were younger than 25 years of age.

They would serve a maximum of 25 years.

They could not continue working.

They could help others, but not working.

What will they live from after retirement? From the congregation, in that case, the people of Israel.

Where did the other people get their support from when they got old? From his land and the labor of his children.

Different from this age, there were no asylums for old people. Children cared for their parents; and the parents spent their old years at home. Children expressed love and gratitude to their parents by supporting them in the old age.

The modern idea of Retirement.

Prior to the 20th century, the idea of retirement was virtually unknown. As I said before, people worked until death or disability.

Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counseling Retirement

The Social Security system, established in the 1930s, made it financially feasible for persons to retire. Mandatory retirement at a specified age such as sixty-five or seventy soon followed. In 1986, Congress phased out mandatory retirement laws, which were overtly discriminatory to older workers, virtually ending the practice of forced retirement by 1987. However, the majority of American workers today still retire at about age sixty-five.

But an increase in life expectancy creates the possibility of a person facing up to 30 years of life past full-time employment.

Phases of Retirement.

Pre-Retirement.

Honeymoon of Retirement.

Fast pace, travel, leisure activities or

Rest and relaxation.

Disenchantment.

Re-orientation of retirement.

Termination of Retirement.

Illness or loss of independence.