From: paul kruper <prkruper@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: March 9, 2021 9:48 PM
To: DSP.EA.Large.Messages@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Is retirement a biblical concept
My brothers in the bond of Sphynx are philosophers and contemplatives gifted
with skills and insights who I once thought were just party mates and
drinking buddies. I see the souls of men in their emails which I never knew
at the Delta Sig house and now I feel real sadness for not having enough
time at the house to truly connect with brothers and develop more heartfelt
deeper relationships on a personal level. Of course it didn't help in 1970 I
could get 100% on a pharmacology test but had the mental maturity of a 10
year old. Keep the forum going for I have no other circle of friends
interested in sharing and reading sometimes contentious points of view and
still remain friends. As I age I find more wisdom and direction from
scripture. Nothing more contentious then scripture or GOD . I told my bible
reading wife it was time for me to retire to which she responded : I could
retire when I find it in the bible . And indeed the only people given
permission to retire by GOD are the Levite priests of Isreal. Numbers 8:23
Man is instructed in Genesis 3:17-19 how he will work the land ALL THE DAYS
OF HIS LIFE until he returns to the dirt. Doesn't sound like retirement to
me and apparently only applies to men. So are retirees disobeying GOD and
subject to condemnation? I believe we run that risk if we do absolutely
nothing. Gifts and skills are given by GOD and not to be wasted. See Parable
of talents. It would make sense that the physically capable retiree should
use his/her skills to help others and thereby continue to 'work'. Salary
would not be the main consideration or expectation but certainly would not
have to be refused. Work without salary is still work. Dementia is delayed
indefinitely in those challenging their mental faculties all their life.
Retirement is frequently a major life stressor with dire health consequences
for many. Helping others with our skills accumulates a pension in heaven
which neither moth nor rust can destroy. Maybe GOD knows what is good for
us. For decades In California, govt. workers were allowed to 'spike' their
pensions . This meant they could save up all their sick time and vacation
time for years and cash it in the last year of employ to double their last
year of salary which was used to calculate their pension. Their pension
would pay more than their salary for the rest of their life paid for by the
taxpayers who themselves never got this perk in their jobs. It was
finally stopped when the state was going bankrupt. The biblical definition
of this is stealing and when combined with doing nothing probably does not
fare well on judgement day. There is a heaven and hell and we will be going
to one or the other .
Paul Kruper
