Distinctively Christian Retirement: A Biblical Call to Serve Jesus Well in Older Age by Simon van Bruchem. Written For Our Instruction. 178 pages. 2022   
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This helpful book was written by a pastor who serves in Western Australia. His aim with the book is to help Christians think about what it means to live a life serving Jesus in retirement. He considers what serving Jesus might look like in the latter stages of life, with the time and resources we have, by looking at what the Bible has to say on the topic.
The book is broken into four sections:
Section 1: Retirement is not the paradise we are looking for
Section 2: Regaining a firm foundation: What the Bible says about age and maturity
Section 3: Practical challenges retirement poses
Section 4: Living out a godly life in retirement
The author tells us that retirement is not a Biblical concept, with no passage describing or encouraging a significant period of leisure in the latter part of life. He also states that retirement in the form we have today was simply unheard of as recently as a hundred and fifty years ago, though most people living in the Western world now see retirement as a fundamental right. He states that this view of retirement is proving to have severe consequences for society, our mental health, and the church.
The author tells us that work is essential for us. We were made to be workers. The empty feeling that many retirees experience could well be related to the fact that we were made to work as our God works, and not to simply spend time in leisure.
He tells us that if we base our self-worth on what we have contributed to society and what we have achieved financially, the transition to retirement will be very difficult. When people retire, especially in Western cultures, it is common to feel less respected and valued by others. However, if we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are of infinite value in the sight of God. This is where our worth truly lies.
Throughout the book, the author often quotes from the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. Among the many subjects the author addresses are depression and other health issues, old age, loneliness, death, striving for godliness, “bucket list”, retirement as an extended vacation, money, serving God in the local church and wider community, evangelism, finishing well, and change.
This is a helpful book for the Christian to make their retirement years different from the rest of the culture, to see retirement not as an extended vacation, filled with only travel, hobbies and recreation, but as a great opportunity to serve God. Retirement from work doesn’t mean retirement from the service of God. Use your age and experience well for God’s glory and to build up God’s church.