You can retire in the grave [Gal 6]

My family don’t do retirement that well. One set of Grandparents did retire: the other was forced into retirement when they discovered he was still working at 70. My parents still work part-time. In their eighties.

In the church there is no retirement. You can stop working when you are taken to your reward. And what you do matters. This is the correction to those who are against the law: we face a bodily resurrection, and we are left on this world to fulfill Christ’s command. That will be judged by what we do, not what we say.

So go to that gym, for (trust me on this) if you don’t you will be crippled for weeks when your back gets out of alignment, rather than for a day. And do good while you can, when you can.

And note this: proclaiming your virtue is not a command, Instead, we are told not to boast.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

(Galatians 5:25-6:10 ESV)

Among ourselves, we should have a gentle spirit. Gentle is a misused word. It does not mean powerless. It means that you have power, and use it not. You work with the other, using persuasion, until there is correction or rebellion.

If one seeks wisdom and truth, one accepts correction and tries to reform. Yes, you can do this even late in life. You can always do more good.

And if we rebel, our works will turn to dust and ashes. You will see the consequences of the policies clearly.