WORKING FOR RETIREMENT
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Luke 12:19
The latest economic woes that have beset this nation and the world in general and the resultant stock market slide that has taken place recently has brought grave concern to some and near panic to others. It would seem to me that it should serve as a wake up call of sorts to those who profess to be the followers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
It is sad but true that quite often the true sons of GOD find themselves patterning their thinking after that of the world. When economic prosperity is all around us and the comforts and indulgences of life are easily enjoyed then the flesh can grow quite content and often we are lulled into a sort of stupor wherein we think that we deserve such and grow extremely attached to the trappings of plenty. We start looking at ways to pad our nest and feed our desires for a life of ease.
It is only natural that our flesh would hunger after such and it is absolutely true that there is no benefit in depriving ourselves of those things we can afford just to deprive ourselves. There is nothing to be gained by wearing sackcloth and ashes when more comfortable clothing can be had. However there is a danger in forgetting that the things which we possess are but temporary gifts which the LORD has placed within our hands and called us to be stewards of.
The possessions which the LORD has given us richly to enjoy are not simply for us to get pleasure from by consuming them, rather they are placed within our hands that we may be able to bless others. (see Acts 20:34-35; Eph.4:28; Rom.12:13). Paul commended the Corinthians for this very thing. “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men. “ (2 Cor 9:11-13)
The man who is wise will look to the example of the ant. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” (Prov 6:6-8) He is not waiting for a handout but is diligent to provide for his own needs and they of his house. (see I Tim.5:8). So it is prudent for men to look to the future and understand that they should make some preparation for that time when they shall perhaps be as the LORD told Peter, “When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”(John 21:18)
Yet it seems to me that in the last 30 years our society has become obsessed with laying up great amounts of money for the future not just to provide for their needs but to insure that they can indulge themselves in old age with the baubles of this world. We must not forget that 401k’s, stocks, and bonds are not the stuff of which life consists, most certainly not that of the sons of GOD. There is no shortage of financial gurus who often give good advice on monetary matters, but at the same time elevate the concern of men about these matters to an inordinate consideration.
While we should be prudent, we must also remember what the LORD said, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Mat 6:25-34) Ye cannot serve GOD and mammon.
The life of GOD’s people consists in much more than this world’s goods. So is our life to be spent working for “retirement”? You be the judge.
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