Welcome to the brand new Ask Paul Tripp podcast where pastor and author Paul David Tripp answers your questions about anything and everything, connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life as he always does.

My name is Ben Fallon and I am the executive director of Paul Trip Ministries, and I'll be your host asking Paul your questions, at least to start.

So, if you have a question that you would like Paul to answer, you can submit it online at paultrip.com slash ask, or by sending an email to ask at paultrip.com.

We'll jump straight in, Paul.

Today we have a question about retirement.

How should Christians think about retirement, and are you ever planning to retire?

Well, I don't...

We all know that there are no chapter and verses on retirement.

The Bible does talk about wisdom of old age and honoring an older person.

But I would say this.

The system, if retirement means that at some point I cut off all my connections, I move to some place where that's comfortable for me, where nobody knows me, and for the rest of of my life all I think about is me, then

that's not a godly or biblical system. In fact, I would say that if you want to retire from daily labor, you are now free to serve the church

in ways that many younger families or middle-aged families could never do because you've got

time on your hands.

And you have walked with the Lord for 30, 40 years.

You have so much to offer.

Imagine a retired couple who become part of a marriage ministry and part of their life

as counseling couples or a retired man who's been in business who works as a non-paid

financial counselor for young couples in the church.

Or a man who is a laborer who can now do small carpentry or plumbing jobs around the church.

There are so many ways you can serve the church

with now not working every day

...