A Killer Retirement Plan For Men

Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” — Fred Rogers

“Retirement” can be a touchy topic in some circles, so let’s be clear about one thing right up front: we never retire from doing the work of the Lord. We might retire from a vocation, but as followers of Christ we continue to serve God’s purposes for our lives here on earth until the day we die.

That said, I’ll make what should be rather an obvious observation: we must steward our financial resources well – not from a worldly perspective, but from a biblical perspective.

It’s All God’s

To be a “steward” is to manage something that belongs to someone else. Whatever your emotional attachment might be to your wealth and material possessions, the bottom line is this: God owns it all. Everything. And He is clear in His Word that we will occasionally encounter some lean times. So we must be shrewd in stewarding what belongs to Him.

Here are three principles that will aid us immeasurably in the stewardship of God’s resources:

One: Avoid Worshiping Some Future State of Ease

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.—Acts 20:24

Paul is sharing from his heart, here, about the thing that he deems most valuable: the story of God’s grace in his life. And Paul knows something about grace – think of the man he used to be, a brutal persecutor of Christians. We can become so consumed with our money, our currency, that we worship the things we invest it in. Like retirement, or the kind of lifestyle we want for ourselves with all of its perks and pleasures. But of course God’s Word tells us that He and He alone is worthy of our worship. Paul states that even his life is not precious to himself. What is his currency? His testimony “to the gospel of grace.”

Two: We Never Retire – Only Our Duties Change

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ”This applies to the Levites: from 25-years-old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. And from the age of 50 years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more.”—Number 8:23-24

Indeed, our duties will change over time – our call to service will look different in each stage. But this does not mean we end up just sitting on the beach lounging in the sun. What is your call to service at this particular time in your life? Certainly, one responsibility we have or will have as we gain more life experience is to mentor the next generation and prepare them for a life of service in the kingdom.

Three: The Timeline Is Uncertain – Storing Up More May Be the Wrong Choice

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’—Luke 12:16-21

Today could be our last! But Proverbs 21:20 says, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” In other words, a wise man reserves a little for a later day, but the foolish man uses everything up at once. Is the Bible in conflict with itself, here? No – but God does encourage us to strike a balance. It’s the difference between saving wisely and hoarding.

So by all means, put a plan in place for your later years. Key to it all, though, is to seek God’s guidance every step of the way. After all, it’s His