Proper Perspective on Retirement

Is retirement in your future?

Ernest Hemingway said, “Retirement is the ugliest word in the human language.” Many may agree. Retirement provision is something that confuses many Christians. It seems we’ve developed a mania about retirement savings. The world says retirement is when we deserve to enjoy ourselves. As a result, many people think they’ll need more money for those years. Granted, you need to have enough money to support your life expectancy and care for loved ones, but if you’ve capped your lifestyle, then in most cases your costs should go down. Those hoarding money for retirement are being deceived. If you’ve been told that your usefulness begins to decline at age 65 please know that many of the apostles did their greatest work after that time we might consider them to be “old men”. Many people continue to build businesses, invent new products, create great art, and minister to others far past their 60s. In fact, I like the thought of living like Satchel Paige who asked “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?”

If you’re in good health, you don’t have to retire, despite what the world may tell you. Prepare, yes, but storing unnecessarily may add stress to your life and take your dependence off the Lord. As long as we have breath we can all be useful and fruitful in service to our families and for God’s purposes. So let me repeat, there’s nothing wrong with retirement planning. I endorse it, but there is something wrong with living for retirement. Yes, save, invest wisely, and trust God to supply in your old age.

If you need to prepare for retirement, our budget coaching program can help. It will put you on the road to financial freedom. Simply go to crown.org and click on the Get Help Now tab.