MoneyWalk 39: What about retirement?

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

You been on the job for many years and believe a never-ending rest from work is in order and you’re talking about a whole lot longer than the vacation time you’ve been given. For years, you've been taking two-week vacations to relieve stress but you can hardly wait until a time of total rest that you call ‘retirement.’ However, you can't live comfortably in retirement without receiving your current monthly income and living on that is real tough!!!

At this point, you don’t have a pension or you realize your pension will not come close to your current monthly income and you haven't invested much to augment your pension. You've also accumulated lots of debt pursuing a plethora of material pleasures you didn’t need but really desired to have or experience.

This scenario makes for a hard time experiencing the retirement you always envisioned or taking a retirement package from your current employer. You feel like you’ll never make it to that time and you become a little agitated because you see a few others who have taken the plunge and seem to be doing very well. However, you’re financial situation just won’t let you. Otherwise, you either lose many of things you’ve come to enjoy or you’ll just wind up working somewhere else and maybe for far less money than you currently earn.

If you find yourself in this position, it’s good to know that it provides a learning opportunity that can help you greatly in the future if you’ll apply it. First, a basic level of planning is usually needed in order to help us land in a good financial situation that will be a blessing for us later in life when we need it the most. Secondly, there is hope. Though your plan to leave your present employer or line of work may be delayed it doesn’t have to be scrapped altogether. Start planning and take control of your spending, saving, investing, and giving now and you will put yourself in a much better position where you have many more retirement options down the road.

Third, only one scripture seems to mention retirement. This should help you understand that you may leave a particular employer or line of work but you should continue working in some capacity for the rest of your life. This may be strictly ministry work involving evangelism, discipleship, prayer, physical helps, etc. or it could be other charitable, employment, and/ or business endeavors. Obviously, you should look at yourself as a full-time minister regardless of where your work plants you and seek to spread the gospel to those with whom you come into contact while also excellently making your widgets and/or performing your job.

The bible contains many lessons on the responsibility to work and its great value for every person. Recognize that fulfillment, peace, joy, and rest come from work that directly or indirectly funds evangelism and discipleship that leads people into relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s time to understand the purpose of work, the real shape that retirement should take, and to get serious about managing money according to biblical principles no matter how old you are so that very shortly in the future you can help create options to fulfill your purpose that you will not have when you don’t manage wisely.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Genesis 1:28, 2:1-3, Proverbs 10:4-5, Luke 12:16-31, 2Thessalonians 3:7-11
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