ETERNAL HERITAGE (1)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) The most important investments that a man can make for his future is to invest to meet the physical and spiritual needs of his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which will promote the raising up of many godly generations after us.
1. Rejecting retirement ease
a) Investing into the generations after us will require a commitment to view our golden years (50 years and above) as the beginning of an even greater ministry to our family. We must reject the idea of retirement in ease. A retirement to a life of ease and pleasure has been the world's alternative to heaven. It has not worked. Multitudes of retired people have discovered the shocking truth that to lose your usefulness is to invite rejection.
b) There may be a place in later years for a change in vocation, but never did God intend for there to be a ceasing of labor. This was made quite clear in man's beginning, when God said to Adam that he must work until the day he died.
i) 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19 NIV)
c) It is significant that many men who were healthy at retirement have died a premature death just a few years later. Still a larger number of retired men have become disillusioned by the constant routine of idleness e.g. the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:18-20.
i) 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:18-20 NIV)
d) God indicated the wisdom of adapting work to the strength and maturity of a man when he commanded that the Levites were to transport the tabernacle form place to place until they were 50 years old. Then after the day of 50, they were to serve with their brethren in a supervisory position.
i) 23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, 25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.” (Numbers 8:23-26 NIV)
e) This function gave the older men maximum opportunity to counsel, drawing from the wisdom and experience that God had given them. To cease form active involvement is to deny your family and others the important lessons that God has taught you. It is during this time where your child raising years and earning for your family support has been fulfilled. Now you have got the wisdom, the experience and the extra financial and material wealth which God has blessed you with to minister to your descendants. It is therefore the beginning of an exciting new ministry.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) The most important investments that a man can make for his future is to invest to meet the physical and spiritual needs of his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which will promote the raising up of many godly generations after us.
1. Rejecting retirement ease
a) Investing into the generations after us will require a commitment to view our golden years (50 years and above) as the beginning of an even greater ministry to our family. We must reject the idea of retirement in ease. A retirement to a life of ease and pleasure has been the world's alternative to heaven. It has not worked. Multitudes of retired people have discovered the shocking truth that to lose your usefulness is to invite rejection.
b) There may be a place in later years for a change in vocation, but never did God intend for there to be a ceasing of labor. This was made quite clear in man's beginning, when God said to Adam that he must work until the day he died.
i) 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19 NIV)
c) It is significant that many men who were healthy at retirement have died a premature death just a few years later. Still a larger number of retired men have become disillusioned by the constant routine of idleness e.g. the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:18-20.
i) 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:18-20 NIV)
d) God indicated the wisdom of adapting work to the strength and maturity of a man when he commanded that the Levites were to transport the tabernacle form place to place until they were 50 years old. Then after the day of 50, they were to serve with their brethren in a supervisory position.
i) 23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, 25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.” (Numbers 8:23-26 NIV)
e) This function gave the older men maximum opportunity to counsel, drawing from the wisdom and experience that God had given them. To cease form active involvement is to deny your family and others the important lessons that God has taught you. It is during this time where your child raising years and earning for your family support has been fulfilled. Now you have got the wisdom, the experience and the extra financial and material wealth which God has blessed you with to minister to your descendants. It is therefore the beginning of an exciting new ministry.
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