Retirement is a relatively modern concept. Thanks to the emergence of different savings and investment vehicles and retirement plans in the last century, the average worker can now consider living off savings during his or her older years and not rely on a regular salary from an employer.
When our culture thinks about retirement, most people envision it as the day they finally get to quit the day-to-day grind of work and enjoy a long period of rest.
But as Christians, how should we view retirement? What does the Bible have to say about it? Scripture doesn’t address retirement specifically, but what it teaches us about work and rest should guide our thinking.
The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. Genesis 2:15 (CSB)
Work is how we provide for ourselves and our families; it’s also tied to purpose. Work should be an act of worship and service to the Lord.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people… Colossians 3:23 (CSB)
In Exodus 20:8-11, the Lord ordained a day of rest, modeled on the day he took after he had completed creation. Hebrews 4:1 (CSB) describes the Christian’s ultimate hope as the “promise to enter his rest.”
But biblical rest is not about inactivity or self-indulgence. It’s intended to be a time of restoration and renewal as we enjoy the fruit of our labor.
Through this lens of Scripture, we should envision retirement as the opportunity to enjoy the financial fruits of our careers (rest) while discovering new ways to serve the Lord (work).
As Christians, we never stop working for the Lord, but we can change how we do it. Your retirement years can be a time of great freedom.
If you’ve saved enough during your working years, you don’t have to depend on a paycheck from someone else. You might be able to serve in capacities you couldn’t before.
Of course, retirement can seem so far away at the beginning of your career or ministry. But it’s never too early to start envisioning what you want your retirement years to look like. Today, people live 20 or 30 years after saying goodbye to their daily work routine. The Lord calls us to use those days, not just fill them.
Building a vibrant and productive retirement won’t happen by accident. It takes years of planning, both from personal and financial perspectives.
As you begin to envision your retirement, determine the steps it will take to set yourself up for success in achieving those goals.
At GuideStone®, we want every servant of Christ to finish well. Our mission is to enhance the financial security and resilience of those who serve the Lord. We have developed a Retirement Dreams and Goals Checklist to help you consider what you’d like to do during your retirement and think through the decisions and financial adjustments you might need to make now to get there.
A biblical perspective on retirement reframes it not as an end of work but as a transition of service. With a deeply instilled sense of purpose and careful early planning, your retirement can be another long season of bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom and leaving a lasting legacy of faith.
For more information, contact us at Info@GuideStone.org or 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, to speak with a customer solutions specialist.
Article 