Sabbaticals Better Than Early Retirement
- Details
- Created: Monday, 02 March 1998 00:00
- Written by Tom Lipp
Work stress had reached critical levels for one of my clients as he quickly climbed the corporate ladder at the management level.
The pressures had inevitably spilled over into the home when Eric asked for an extended leave of absence from his job.
Eric was granted his request with the stipulation that he would return to work at a lower position. The experience for him was outstanding.
"Those six months added 10 years to my life," Eric said. "The stress that melted away was phenomenal!" During his sabbatical, Eric deepened his walk with the Lord, got to know his kids again, and strengthened his marriage.
Eric's work relationships had become "somehow sweeter, somehow softer." The sabbatical was Eric's key to avoiding burnout.He did some travelling, read some books he's always wanted to read and refocused his life's purpose. By being refreshed, Eric was able to contribute even more to his employer. Upon returning to work, he found he could relate better to others and really "connect" with them rather than merely work at a common task.
Eric's work relationships had become "somehow sweeter, somehow softer." The sabbatical was Eric's key to avoiding burnout.
He said that at least 20 of his colleagues longed to do the same. But the only reason Eric was able to take time off was because he had been financially responsible and had gotten out of all debt. Ironically, one of the biggest causes of career stress is the self-imposed goal of early retirement.
Yet the Bible does not recommend early retirement. With the exception of the Levites who were told they should retire from temple service at age 50 (Numbers 8:25), the Bible doesn't speak of retirement the way the world promotes it.
In television and on billboards, we see people lying on hammocks enjoying the sunset of a South Sea Island. It is often advertised as the golden years -- almost as a replacement for heaven. Sadly, for those who reject the Lord, that's all they have to look forward to.
It's even more unfortunate to see some high performers retire from extremely high-stress jobs and then end up in the grave shortly afterwards. I know of one senior vice president who left a major oil company and died just six months later.
The word Sabbath in Hebrew literally means "rest." This principle of instituting regular periods of rest is not only confined to the weekly cycle of working for six days and then resting for one day.
In Leviticus 25, God also instructs His children to take off every seventh year. People frequently use the expression, "Thank God, it's Friday!' Imagine the euphoria if we knew that after every six years we would have a major break from our hectic routines. Merely the anticipation of an imminent resting period is refreshing
If we followed the Biblical instructions more carefully and took an extended break every seventh year, we could reduce our stress levels, deepen our relationships with loved ones and get maximum benefit out of the years when we are still young and healthy. To be able to take a sabbatical requires prudence and planning. It is available only to those who do not have massive debts and have built up some income reserves.
A sabbatical offers the chance to re-evaluate our circumstances and maybe even make a career shift. Perhaps we should be doing something else. It presents the opportunity to travel or enjoy recreational activities such as hiking or scuba diving.
Time away from the job can also be spent doing volunteer and charitable service work. It offers the ability to invest heavily into the lives of family members, including children during their growing up years.
Worn batteries ultimately get recharged and new creativity develops. The long-lost scriptural teaching on sabbaticals is slowly being "rediscovered" by segments of the corporate world.
For example, the American firm of Watson Wyatt offers consultants with 10 year's service a one-time eight to 12-week sabbatical. A properly-managed registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) can be used to fund a sabbatical. It can be turned rate a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) at any time, not just at age 69.
This may mean pushing full retirement off by 10 or 15 years. But if we are working where we should be, in a career that we love, we may want to carry on right into our 70s, if only on a part-time basis. A financial advisor can help individuals manage their funds optimally for regular sabbaticals and eventual retirement.
The God who designed us knows what's best for us. We need to revisit His ways of operating to ensure that we stay fresh and creative. The personal benefits gained through a wisely used sabbatical more than compensate for the loss of money previously set aside for retirement.
Its not that we shouldn't put any money away for when we get older. But rather than our ultimate objective being "Freedom 55," we need to achieve the greatest impact here on earth and maximize eternal benefits in our lives and in the lives of others.
