Christian Perspective on Retirement

How you view retirement determines how you will plan for your retirement years. In essence, retirement is not only a reward for past service, but a stepping-stone to future ministry. Whether you are in full-time Christian ministry or work in a secular environment, believers are all called to life-long service. Of course, your ministry may look different at various life stages, but the key is to be financially prepared so you can serve the Lord no matter where He leads you.

The bottom line is that we need to manage wisely the money we’ve acquired in our income-producing years, so when the later years arrive, we will have the finances to carry out whatever the Lord has planned. We call that concept “Future-Funded Ministry,”™ financial security for ministry in your later years.

If our goal is to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), we can be more effective when we get out of debt, plan for the future, and wisely follow God’s standards for biblical financial stewardship.

Here are some powerful concepts and Scriptures on our responsibilities for biblical financial stewardship and "Future-Funded Ministry" planning:

1. Start small, grow tall

In the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32), we learn that the smallest seed planted in the ground grows to become the largest of all garden plants. In a similar way, money that you save (no matter how small the amount) grows. With the power of compounding interest, money in a savings instrument has the potential to grow faster than it would outside of an account.

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

2. Parable of the talents – Invest

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), Christ teaches us a lesson on managing our money well and exercising good stewardship and faithfulness. Here we learn about a man who received five talents (an ancient form of money) and at once put his money to work and gained five more (Matthew 25:16).

However, another man received only one talent and he dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.  (Matthew 25:18). Here’s what happened when the master returned:

“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.’” (Matthew 25:24-27, NIV)

Clearly this man did not know his master much less his master’s character. If he did, he would have found a greater harvest and more joy.

3. Sowing and reaping

The principle of “sowing and reaping” is found in the Bible, too. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Before you reap a harvest you will need to plant some seeds. Likewise, before you reap a financial harvest, you’ll need to start saving.

Imagine a farmer who buys a plot of land but does not plant any seeds. Instead, he kneels beside the field and prays for crops to grow. Proudly, he proclaims, “I just trust the Lord to provide.” At harvest time, he gets nothing but barren land. That’s because God has established the law of sowing and reaping.

4. The Lord owns everything

The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. (Psalms 24:1, NASB)

5. Plan ahead

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-11, NIV)

6. Save for the future

The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. (Proverbs 21:20, LB)

7. Persevere

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5, NIV)

8. Give as you are blessed and do it cheerfully

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV)