Christians, Retirement, and the Bible

Retirement planning.

IRA’s, 403(b)s, 401Ks, dollar cost averaging, mutual funds.

There is a plethora of topics related to retirement. There are blogs, websites, and financial calculators to help with the process. Since the very earliest posts on this blog, I have made it my goal to think critically, evaluate motivations, and establish the true biblical teachings associated with many culturally accepted North American practices.

As an example, I encourage you to take a look at the post where I discuss the differences between biblical and personal finances.

Ephesians 2:1-3 offers three characteristics of the un-regenerated life:

1. Lived following the ways of this world.
2. Followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Satan).
3. Gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature.

These three characteristics reveal that following can be a dangerous thing. I find this list especially interesting in light of a well known American phrase “keeping up with the Joneses.” By nature we follow. I believe this passage in Ephesians 2:1-3 challenges us not to follow but to think critically, study deeply, and follow faithfully. I have attempted to spend some time thinking critically about my retirement assumptions I have held for a long time. I wondered how they would hold up to serious biblical scrutiny. So I decided to write a series on topics related to retirement. Over the next few weeks I plan to post articles related to retirement. A couple of these will be distinctly Christian and the others will not. However, as always I pray that the Christian foundation colors, affects,and impacts all the posts that are not as directly “Christian” in nature. The following articles will run over the next few weeks:

1. Week #1: Is the goal of life retirement?
2. Week #2: Saving for Retirement: How Do You Know When You Have Enough?
3. Week #3: Should I Save For Retirement or Give that Money Instead?
4. Week #4: Seven Retirement Factors You Cannot Know or Control (How Not to Waste Time Planning for Retirement)
5. Week #5: Five Ways to Deal with the Unpredictability of Retirement
6. Week #6: Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA

Photo by pedrosimoes7.