This morning I was recovering from a work Christmas dinner, then getting out and doing the shopping. We are tidying the house further so that we can have guests tomorrow for our annual (not really) Christmas party, and I will have to spend this evening getting a draft review made.

Work will not stop for another week, and then there will be the summer break: Then work will start again. And this is good. It is scriptural, and it is good.

Being a community organizer, SJW or beneficiary, sitting in idleness is bad for you, and against the teaching of Christ. Such people should be placed under the discipline of the church.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labour we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 ESV)

I am not going to recite all the data, but there is considerable evidence that retirement is bad for you, unless you continue to be active, and continue to use your mind. If you continue to work, you generally remain in better physical health, and interacting with co workers (particularly for men) is a considerable part of one’s social support. The effects are somewhat muted for women, who often work in the home continually, not stopping at any time.

In short, don’t allow yourself to rust simply because you have reached a certain age. Do not plan for a retirement: the moneys that are saved (by strong coercion in New Zealand and compulsion in Australia) can be lost by the financial people you have trusted, or confiscated by the government.

This is not what we care commanded to do. We are told to work. Age is not an excuse. We need to support our families, and avoid being a client of any faction or state. For we do not belong to our sponsor, we are not owned by the state, but we belong to Christ.