The aging workforce has become a key issue for business and professional leaders in many countries. In some, including the United States, the average age of working people is increasing. Individual companies set age limits for retirement, but should people's right to extend their careers be limited to arbitrary deadlines?
My experience has taught me that a person's age is not always an objective way of assessing their worth in the workplace. We all need to consider each individual's ability to perform their specific role correctly and competently. As a veteran of the insurance industry, I recognize that my profession requires mental acuity and physical stamina.
After 40 years of my career, the moment has come when I am ready to pass the torch to a younger, more competent generation. However, I also recognize that God has blessed me with longevity and sanity. Убежден, что мои наиболее продуктивные годы, возможно, еще впереди. Нынешнее путешествие вдохновляет, и я с нетерпением жду, куда меня поведет Бог. If you have already completed your professional career, I hope you have found meaning in using your time. Но я не готов к праздной жизни.
As a follower of Jesus Christ and a devoted student of God's Word, the Bible, I was impressed by the long lives of two men who remained faithful to God during the ancient Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb, representing the tribes of Ephraim and Judah, along with ten others, were sent to scout the Promised Land, as stated in Numbers 13. Only the two of them returned with a “minority report” to Moses and the Israelites, giving a magnificent account of what they saw during the secret mission.
Joshua and Caleb were the ones God called to lead the remnant of the Israelites into Canaan and conquer the land for His chosen people. The rest of the scouts were prohibited from entering the Promised Land. “This people that came out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall not see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they obeyed me not, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they obeyed the Lord” (Numbers 32:11-12).
Joshua and Caleb were both eighty years old when they crossed the Jordan River, and both lived well past one hundred! During those years, Israel conquered much of the land God had promised them, and the people prospered. These men were effective leaders who undoubtedly loved the Lord. They led the Israelis to many victories and only a few failures. The Israelites faithfully followed their example.
Both men were led by the Spirit of God as they demonstrated the spiritual, mental, and physical strength that allowed them to lead the wayward crowd of Israelites. The same spiritual, mental, and physical strength is available today to each of us who trust in the Lord, whether we are young and just starting out in our careers, in our mid-life, or nearing the end of our working lives.
If the Lord has given you longevity and blessed you with spiritual, mental and physical strength, He expects your faithfulness and obedience in all circumstances. God has a wonderful plan for those who remain faithful to the end.
© 2024, all rights reserved. Jim Langley is a writer with thirty years of experience and works as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has become writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw closer to Him. A longtime member of CBMC, he began writing Fourth Quarter Strategies in 2014.
Questions for reflection/discussion
To learn more about what the Bible says on this topic, consider the following passages: Numbers 8:26; Proverbs 27:17; Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, 4:9–12; Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 3:1-10, 5:17
Difficult task
The two most important but often undervalued assets in the modern workplace are wisdom and experience. These are qualities that more senior employees typically possess. If you are one of them, actively look for ways to share your knowledge with others. If you're younger, spending time with an experienced colleague can be extremely beneficial. This week, consider ways you can begin to share your experiences and wisdom, or find someone who can teach you what they have learned.
