Many Americans place a huge emphasis on retirement, or the thinking that we need to save up as much money as possible so that we can one day stop working and live comfortably in our golden years. Just watch most of the ads on TV during sporting events (if you can sift through all of the beer and Viagra commercials). Retirement ads send a powerful message that a successful person accumulates wealth to live comfortably in retirement and distributes that wealth to their families to leave a lasting legacy when they pass away.
While many Christian speakers and authors emphasize the concept of saving up a bunch of money for retirement, I do not think that retirement is a biblical concept. I am not advocating for financial irresponsibility, but I am interested by how much followers of Jesus in America have bought into a worldly concept. I cannot find anything about retirement in the Bible.
Much like the divorce rate in America, does the emphasis on a comfortable retirement by American Christians reflect the values of the world? Or thinking of it in another way, two-thirds of the world's popluation lives on less than $2 per day. The majority of the world's Christians, around 80%, live outside the West (where retirement is highly valued). So, the majority of followers of Christ in the world have no concept of retirement, nor do they value it as an essential part of following Christ. Perhaps for us in America we could learn something from the majority of Christians around the world and begin placing more of an emphasis on eternal outcomes instead of focusing the majority of our time on accumulating wealth for retirement.
What do you think?
4 comments:
Bryan
That was definitely posted by a young guy! LOL
Actually, I agree, at least in principle. I guess it depends on how you define retirement. Many retired (from secular jobs) people take the opportunity to get involved in ministry in ways that they couldn't before. So in a sense, they're not retiring - they're just moving from a paying secular job to unpaid ministry. I know plenty of people who share that goal, and plan their finances accordingly.
John V
Retirement talk is just another way for Christians to procrastinate and not trust God. (When I feel comfortable, when I have enough, when I feel secure and safe, when I have time then I'll serve, and minister, and leave a legacy.) Why do we wait? Why does our cup need to be overflowing before we have enough to share? Why do we give God our leftovers(retirement) and give our porfolios our prime? The answer is we're selfish and our faith hasn't matured as much as our annuities. Do not store up for tomorrow for tonight you die. Let's serve him TODAY for THIS is the day the Lord has made.
Whoa, powerful comment Greg! Good stuff. Thanks for the post.
John, I can't believe you're accusing me of being a young guy. OK, I guess I'll play the role for as long as I can!
Bryan and Greg
For the record, Greg, I completely agree with you. Too many times we give God 'what's left' of our time and our energies, instead of our 'first fruits'. And in today's business culture (where you're expected to do more and more with less and less) it's hard to find the energy for ministry, much less family.
The key, my young friends, is to turn to that great theologian, Mr Myagi, who told his mentee: "Balance, Daniel-son! Balance!!"
:)
John V
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