Enjoying Retirement in the Ministry

When I was asked to speak to you today the topic given me was "Enjoying Re­tirement in the Ministry." You will notice it is "in" not "from" the ministry. This gives a retired man a sense of belonging, of being more than a cipher, although ciphers in the right places add tremendous value.

I have greatly enjoyed my long years in the ministry. Looking back, it does not seem possible that Mrs. Coon and I have spent nearly half a century in it. But they have been most rewarding years. We have tried to put our best and most unselfish labor into the work of soul winning. The work was pleasant, and we hardly realized how swiftly the years were passing. It seemed that we would always stay young and full of energy. But recently we realized that the step' was less elastic, weariness was more pronounced, and life's day was merg­ing into long afternoon shadows. We al­most pinched ourselves to see if it really was true. Yes, seventy years were taking their toll. It was almost a shock to us, but we decided to meet the inevitable coura­geously. So, although we were not asked to retire, we recognized that the time had come to do so. The transition was made in an orderly manner and pleasantly, and we are enjoying our retirement.

It is wise for one to recognize, himself, when the time has come to retire. To do this understandably and voluntarily saves the brethren the embarrassment of open­ing the way, and saves the worker the em­barrassment of reading the exit sign.

To help make retirement enjoyable the retiree should recognize that he has re­tired and deport himself accordingly. He should not expect the same recognition as when he was an active worker. He has had his day, and should now let younger men carry the responsibilities of the church work. However, he should never be a slacker or lose interest in the continued progress of the work he has given his life to promote. There are still services he can render if requested to do so that can be a real blessing to the church and to himself. But he should never feel slighted if not asked to do anything. He can still uphold the brethren by his prayers and words of cheer. These are loving services that all can render, and they are sometimes stronger supports than any other service one can per­form. And brethren, let none of us who have grown old resent the fact; for many are denied this privilege.

Through the years I have observed how people have reacted to retirement. To some it is the time of rejoicing over the harvest of years. Their lives continue to radiate cheer and good will everywhere. They con­tinue to be a blessing, "and their works do follow them." Others are clouds without rain. And I decided that when the time of retirement came for me I would never be a shadow or a cloud.

Life is just what we make it. We can grow old gracefully, beloved and appreciated by our associates, or we can sulk and be mo­rose and miserable.

Retired workers can still be young in spirit. Everyone loves youth. People do not pick old droopy flowers. The gardener may gather some flowers that have gone to seed that he may grow others. In like manner we may sow seeds of love and kindness in our old age, which will spring up anew in other hearts.

Our church members do not usually re­quest old pastors. They want young men. When Christ needed able workers He also chose young men. The faithful and wise worker will recognize that in every age youth is at a premium and will adapt him­self to the inevitable.

We who have retired are no longer young; but we once were, and folks were good to us then and gave us a chance. Let us give the young workers of today a chance. Someone recently remarked to me that he was much concerned as to how the younger men would bear the heavy responsibilities. I replied that they were now older than we were when the brethren laid heavy responsibilities upon us. We did not distrust the judgment of the brethren then, why should we distrust it now? The Bible says: "Rejoice, 0 young man, in thy youth" (Eccl. 11:9). Let us rejoice with them. They are the hope of the church.

I am happily retired from the heavier responsibilities of our church work, but not retired from being deeply interested in its onward progress. I cannot imagine a soldier of the cross spending his life build­ing up the work and not continuing to do so upon retirement. We never retire from being Christians. We may not because of waning strength be able to enter into the heat of the battle against evil, but we can show an ever-increasing loyalty and love for the prosperity of God's church in her fierce and final conflicts with our common foe.

Retirement from heavy responsibilities gives us more time for personal work among our friends and neighbors. I have pur­chased several copies of this year's mission­ary book, Patriarchs and Prophets, and I have given away most of them already. I plan to distribute more. Such books ought to be distributed by the millions.

Although retired, I remember I am still an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I owe the same allegiance to the church as I did before retirement. My influence should be just as strong; my love and loyalty should increase; my con­duct should continue to be above reproach; and I should continue to bring honor to the church. As I near the sunset hour, my life should reflect the glow of the Sun of Righteousness more fully. I should re­member my life is not my own. I am not a freelance, but a bond servant of the Lord and of His church. I am still subject to the directions of the church. Recognizing and following these basic principles will make retirement in the ministry enjoyable for me and will help my brethren.

How different are our circumstances in retirement from those of our workers in past years. Many today retire to comfortable homes and pleasant surroundings. I thank God for His goodness to us in these blessings. When my wife and I started in the work we had two rooms to live in, but we were happy. We were asked to conduct an evangelistic campaign on our own and we enjoyed it. There were no rent allow­ances, no travel budgets or fringe benefits. We distributed our own handbills to ad­vertise the meetings. I think we spent less than ten dollars for advertising. From two resident trustees we obtained permission to use their church free of charge. In about six weeks we had seventeen new believers. As far as I know, not one of them turned back to the world. We received twelve dollars a week salary. Retired workers might receive eight to ten dollars a week with no allowances. But everyone was happy. And God was good to us all through the long years of service.

I think of Paul's forced retirement. He was chief of the apostles. Probably he did more for the cause of Christ than any other man. He was not only a great worker but a great sufferer for Christ. Listen to what he says in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: "In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suf­fered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in per­ils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which corn­eth upon me daily, the care of all the churches."

By our standards Paul should have had an enjoyable retirement. If any man de­served it Paul certainly did. But what kind of retirement did Paul have? Where did he end his days? Not in a comfortable home amid pleasant surroundings, but in a cold gloomy dungeon. He rose above those conditions and surroundings, how­ever. Although he was an aged man, he spent his time writing epistles full of in­struction, cheer, and holy fervor which for two thousand years have inspired the church to deeds of valiant service and mar­tyrdom and have strengthened millions of Christians gladly to follow his example of supreme devotion.