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Do you know what is consistently found to increase mortality rates in older adults? Retiring from the workforce. One study “found that those who retired at 55 and lived to be 65 died 37 percent sooner than those that retire at 65. And in general, people who retire at 55 are 89 percent more likely to die within ten years than those that retire at 65.”
This is because people who retire from the workforce typically retire from productive living as well. They have reached an arbitrary age where they assume their effectiveness is not as impactful as before, so they stop trying.
I think Peter has this in mind as he concludes this list of virtues. He doesn’t want any saint to say, “Well, I have added to my faith, goodness…all the way to agape,” and then add, “So now that I have arrived, I can take it easy.” Instead, Peter urges us to continue growing (2 Peter 1:8; compare v. 3.
(Check out all of the Scriptures in this post by clicking here.)
Look at this phrase in a couple of other translations:
- As these qualities are yours (AMPC) = as you own them, understand them, and practice them more proficiently.
- The more you grow, the more productive and useful your life will be in God’s kingdom.
I want you to think about who you see in the Bible that has retired. I cannot think of one, but instead we see saints making every effort to be productive and effective until God calls them home.
- Moses—Deuteronomy 34:7
- Caleb—Joshua 14:10-12
- John—2 John 12; 3 John 13-14
- Peter—2 Peter 1:13-15
Notice Peter’s progression…
(1) IF you possess… There is no end date on this. The phrase “make every effort” (v. 5) is in the aortist tense and active voice. So it just keeps going. The phrase “if you possess” (v. 8) is in the present tense and active voice—so I have to always be active.
(2) They will keep you… They will keep you growing. They will keep you fruitful. They will keep you excited about working for God. Literally translated: They will keep you from being barren and from shunning the labor that you ought to be doing.
(3) But… If I have an attitude that I have arrived, that I can relax, then I will regress. The Christian walk should be constantly upward (Proverbs 15:24).
This is not to say that there are no temporary stumbles. Unrealistic growth is an unbroken step upward without any plateaus. Realistically, there are times of plateau: (a) for assimilation or (b) preparation. Think about our friend Caleb. He had 40 years in the desert that could have seemed like a barren, unfruitful time. But he clearly kept himself ready and in fighting condition that whole time, so that when his mountain moment came, he was ready to meet the challenge!
(4) Therefore… We have the repeated encouragement to be all the more eager to keep growing. There is a rich welcome awaiting that saint (Luke 12:42-44, 35-38).
Keep going. Keep growing. Keep making every effort. Keep possessing these qualities in increasing measure. Keep active in God’s work until the very end.
Saints should want nothing less than full productivity and effectiveness until they are called Home.
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