“You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” George Burns
When Angelyn Burk, a recently retired
accountant, decided to crunch some numbers one evening last year, she made a
stunning discovery: It would be cheaper for her and her husband to spend their
retirement perpetually aboard cruise ships than to continue living on land. “This
is how I want to retire,” Angelyn, 53, decided in that moment. “Life is too
short.” She turned to her husband, Richard, and said: “We can do this. Let’s
make cruise ships our home.” To her delight, he was onboard. They looked online
and determined that, on average, they could string together voyages on various
cruise ships for markedly less money than their collective cost of living on
land. All they had to do was hop from ship to ship with some small breaks in
between.
“We calculated that we can probably live
reasonably well with about $100 a day together, with what we’ve saved up,” said
Richard, 51, who retired as a computer programmer last month. “It’s like you’re
at home,” Angelyn said. “We have a magnificent living room, an absolutely
gorgeous dining room and a hot tub that never needs maintenance.” The Burks
enjoy various activities offered onboard, including movie screenings, comedy
performances and arts and crafts classes. As long as it remains financially
feasible, the Burks intend to continue cruising — forever. “That would be our
dream,” Richard said.
While
it may be a “dream” for them, the Bible teaches it’d be a nightmare. It’s a
self-absorbed existence that does little if anything for anyone else. Studies show
that the healthiest mentally and physically seniors are those who live for
others. Volunteering and being involved in others’ lives has many benefits for
seniors. It’s good for your mental health. It keeps the brain
active, which contributes to mental health. Meaningful and productive
activities help you feel happier and have a positive outlook. It prevents
loneliness and isolation. Feelings of loneliness and few interactions
with others negatively impact a person’s health. Getting out into the community
promotes socialization. Individuals who engage in volunteering experience less depression.
It gives you a feeling of purpose. As we grow older, our sense of purpose
can fade. Regaining a feeling of purpose through volunteering helps older
adults feel recharged with a new zest for life. It helps you meet new
friends. Life changes, such as moving to a new neighborhood or retiring,
can make finding friends to spend time with difficult. Volunteering is a great
way to meet new people. By working together towards the same mission, you build
friendships with like-minded peers.
We are blessed with many godly senior saints
at Grace who are committed to investing in God’s Kingdom and in the lives of others.
It’s
the biblical model. For example, the nativity account is so much richer because
of Simeon and Anna found in Luke 2. Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Anna lived in
the Temple. Though aged, they were looking for the coming Messiah. The Bible is
silent about Simeon's age, though it’s assumed he was elderly. Anna was over a
hundred years old. Though up in years, they’re still serving in the Temple and
looking for Christ to come.
Joshua was nearly 100 when he led Israel into
the Promised Land. He lived to be 110 years old and loved, trusted, and obeyed
the Lord wholeheartedly until his last breath. His faith-filled friend, Caleb, is
another example of unwavering faith. At forty, he was one of twelve men chosen to
spy out the land of promise. He and Joshua returned with a good report, but the
other ten came back with a negative one. God only allowed Joshua and Caleb out
of the twelve to enter the promised land. Four decades in the wilderness never diminished
Caleb’s faith. Forty-five years of waiting hadn’t dimmed his zeal for the Lord
or weakened his passion to claim new territory for God.
God’s plan is for every believer to age well. We won’t be mature until
we’re like Jesus and we won’t be like Jesus until we open our eyes in glory. How
can we age well? We must develop godly habits of trust, praise, and hope. A
habit is developed by frequent repetition over a period of time. Some become
habitual worriers or complainers. God’s plan is for us to grow in Christlikeness.
Psalm 71 unpacks these three habits we must develop. It’s never too late to
start, whether one is 10 or 100.
The
habit of trust (71:3). The whole psalm is an affirmation of the
psalmist’s trust in the Lord. Though the psalmist was struggling because he was
in difficult circumstances, he was un-staggering in his faith. He knew whom he
believed. Such faith stems from a knowledge of God. True knowledge dispels
doubt and fear. Are you developing a habit of trusting God in the difficulties of
your life?
The
habit of praise (71:6). Most of us are naturally grumblers. God wants
us to be people of praise. Even when difficult times come, He wants us to praise
Him. The psalmist purposefully developed that habit.
How
can we learn to praise God when trials come? The answer is, “by learning to trust
Him.” Just as trust stems from knowing God, so praise stems from trusting God.
One of the best ways to grow in praise in the present is to remember what God
has already done for you in the past. We tend to forget His many benefits on
our behalf and thus we fail in praise.
The
habit of hope (71:14). Biblical hope is not “I hope so.” It’s certain because
God is its object (71:5). It’s anchored to trust in God. Believers are to have
a habit of hope built on the promises of God.
When the great missionary pioneer, Adoniram Judson, was suffering from
fever in a wretched prison in Burma. A friend sent him a letter, asking,
“Judson, how’s the outlook?” Judson replied, “The outlook is as bright as the
promises of God.” God’s people must be those who hope in God.
Once
when evangelist George Whitefield was complaining about the difficulties of
ministry to some friends. He said that he was weary of the burdens and was glad
his work would soon be over and he’d depart this earth to be with Christ. The
others admitted to having similar feelings – all except one, a Mr. Tennant.
Noting this, Whitefield tapped him on the knee and said, “Well, Brother
Tennant, you are the oldest among us; do you not rejoice to think that your
time is so near at hand when you will be called Home?” And that dear saint
answered, “I have nothing to do with death. My business is to live as long as I
can, and as well as I can, and serve my Savior as faithfully as I can, until He
thinks it's time to call me Home.”
Brother
Tennant wasn’t “cruising” into heaven. He was going to go out on fire for Jesus.
That’s the way that I want to go out! How about you?
Can
we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out
more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at
262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life,
I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My
Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy.
Please include your mailing address.
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