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:
- Lived following the ways of this world.
- Followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Satan).
- 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:
- Week #1: Is the goal of life retirement?
- Week #2: Saving for Retirement: How Do You Know When You Have Enough?
- Week #3: Should I Save For Retirement or Give that Money Instead?
- Week #4: Seven Retirement Factors You Cannot Know or Control (How Not to Waste Time Planning for Retirement)
- Week #5: Five Ways to Deal with the Unpredictability of Retirement
- Week #6: Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA
Photo by pedrosimoes7.
Looking forward to the series Craig!
.-= Paul @ FiscalGeek´s last blog ..Free Gift Wrapping Using Unconventional Materials =-.
Paul,
I sure hope you don’t have any sleepless nights as you wait. This series is more exciting than Christmas :).
Looking forward to it, Craig!
.-= Paul Williams @ Provident Planning´s last blog ..Raising a Cow for Beef: Month 4 =-.