The End Times and Retirement Plans

[Patreesha]

I'd appreciate some input on retirement planning. Unfortunately I work in the marketing department of a financial company that sells retirement plans. It's my job to get people to buy 401(k)s and the rest but can't really get passionate about it. Thankfully I'm not a salesperson -- I design the brochures and other material so it's kinda indirect. Personally, I think that we should depend on God daily and that we probably won't be here in 20+ years. Plus I could use the extra money today while we're here. What does everyone think about retirement planning? A waste of time and money, or financial prudence?

[bvaliant4him]

I'd appreciate some input on retirement planning. Unfortunately I work in the marketing department of a financial company that sells retirement plans. It's my job to get people to buy 401(k)s and the rest but can't really get passionate about it. Thankfully I'm not a salesperson -- I design the brochures and other material so it's kinda indirect. Personally, I think that we should depend on God daily and that we probably won't be here in 20+ years. Plus I could use the extra money today while we're here. What does everyone think about retirement planning? A waste of time and money, or financial prudence?

I've been wondering about that myself. I decided to just do the minimum and let God do the rest. We really don't know when He will show up!

[fl2007rn]

I certainly believe it is a personal choice whether you participate in a retirement savings plan. I do the minimum 4% 401K at my job, but am hoping the rapture will happen before I retire. I am 48 and will be surprised if social security is still around in 17 years when I go to retire.

[Wishing4]

We are saving for retirement. I let DH do most of the money making decisions. He sees how little his parents were able to save, and they are getting to the age of retirement and have to keep working. I'm glad we are saving, but if we aren't here to need it, that would be fine with me.

[pixelpusher]

I have thought many times about cashing out what little I have and using it for things we need now, but we just don't know how long the Lord will be patient with this world.

[Florian9]

I have thought many times about cashing out what little I have and using it for things we need now, but we just don't know how long the Lord will be patient with this world.

That's my problem too--who knows how long the Lord will take before he bails us out of here. I'm a saver....big time! Started my 401k when I was 26. Every year I add 1% to my contribution. There was a time I was dropping in 25% and the dividends have paid out big time. Sure, based on "market averages" I'm on the path to have well over a million by the time I retire in 20 years or so, but that can all go away with the stroke of a pen here, along with some major wars overseas. My eyes are still on things above--but I wisely put money away into my 401k because I want to take care of my wife and family (just in case). It's good to be prepared & there is nothing wrong about having a good nest egg.

[Jlutz]

Matthew 6:

25Therefore 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?

26Behold 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?

27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Take 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.

[Acts5:41]

I invest it in Bible Handouts.

Seriously, I don't make enough to have any kind of retirement plan. Either way, God's got my back.

[old_andy]

Plan for tomorrow, but live as if He will come tonight!

I know the above may sound silly, but think about it.

Live, pray, worship and love our Lord now, in the moment.

Tomorrow is not promised but you do have now.

Sure it's ok if you plan for the future, but place your faith in the now.

You have now, you may not have tomorrow.

I hope this makes sense to you.

[$teve]

In Australia we don't have any choice. Employers are required by law to contribute to our retirement, aka superannuation. I doubt there will be anything left in the kitty by the time I retire - which would probably be never anyway as super will probably be robbed by governments and won't be able to afford to retire. Or much better still, Jesus would have come and taken us LONG before then!

[Tall Timbers]

I planned and prepared for a family before I had one. I planned for retirement without knowing when I might retire. When I retired from the military at the age of 46 I had enough physical problems that it would be unlikely I could hold a job. My last couple of years in the military I was in such a state that I wasn't good for much. My military retirement combined with VA disability covers a good portion of our needs, but I've been using my retirement fund which has proven to come in quite handy. The retirement fund keeps me from having to cut corners in the care and feeding of our children.

If I were to have been raptured before I needed the retirement fund, it wouldn't have mattered. As the dollar devalues and I watch the value of my life savings shrink rapidly, it's no big deal. If I lose everything, that'll be okay. I prepared and did the best I could with what God gave me, I leaned on him all the way and will continue to, thanking Him for everything.

I did not put my savings into IRAs or 401Ks. I paid taxes on the monies and then invested it directly, on my own. There are no strings attached to my funds, it's still mine to do with as I please and when I please.

It's good to plan for the future, but don't fret about it.

[HeIsEnough]

I don't recall the word, or the concept as we know it, of retirement in scripture.

I've never personally "planned" on retiring. I'll work till I do not want to anymore, and quit if I can sustain whatever station in life that fits. If I cannot retire, I'll just keep going till I retire in a 6 foot box. (the likely scenario ) Its always a heart thing to me, guard your heart in these things. As the scripture already posted relates, don't give any thought to it as a primary goal in life, which is what this world does, your goal is seeking the Kingdom. Don't fret if you do, don't fret if you do not, I would think of it as due diligence, nothing more. If you can do so, I would take advantage of whatever was offered by a company, as you are able.

[Patreesha]

Thank you all for your responses. I will trust the Lord with my future and reduce the amount that I'm putting into my 401k as I need the money now.

[penbrat]

I certainly believe it is a personal choice whether you participate in a retirement savings plan. I do the minimum 4% 401K at my job, but am hoping the rapture will happen before I retire. I am 48 and will be surprised if social security is still around in 17 years when I go to retire.

I'll be 42 soon and certainly don't expect there to be social security around by the time I retire (should the Lord tarry) I am thankful that it is here now for my mom. I work for small law firm and we have a little bit of a retirement plan, but not much. I save the best I can and will trust God to do the rest. I really pray that we are not here much longer, but obviously it is His timing not mine

[Wally]

I sometimes joke with 401k promoters, how do they sell to pentacostals or others believing the Rapture is within a couple years.


Remember, no one knows the day.


Retirement planning is not something to brush off. God tells us to be good stewards. Some of that is planning for the future.

Do I want to be a burden to my kids? No. Do I expect them to care for me in my last years? If they are able.
Do I desire that I leave them something instead of having it dissolve in medical costs......

The poor you will have with you always.

So what is Jesus calling us to do? Proclaim, share the Gospel, Love our families and neighbors. Financial planning is to support these directives. It is subordinate.
It also is to be done in a manner of trust. Jesus wants us to trust Him. Our planning should evidence that.

Saving is different today than it was in Bible times. Families are different, social services are very different, churches are different.

But God hasn't changed.


Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

[Cindy S.]

I don't put all my eggs in one basket and I don't expect to be able to retire and do nothing.
I have been blessed with good health and if I can keep working I probably will. I'm currently 53.
I have a small 401K, we heat mostly with wood and we have a 5 acre wooded property for
recreation and home heat, I just bought a freezer and will invest in food at sale prices only from
now on.
We live in a 2 bd, 1 bath house and don't live beyond our means.
I don't plan on social security although it would be nice to get paid back for all the years I paid into it.
I think it's better to buy with the cash while we can, in case we go to a global currency and lose
1/2 the value of our dollar or lose it from the quantitative easing.
With my cash, I'm buying food, stocking my pantry, paying off our house.
If the stock market were to crash, we would survive.
Oh, and like Acts, I invest in my tracts ministry and make sure I am supporting my church.

[Hootmon]

Just remember that 'retirement' isnt just about retiring. Its about having some means when you cant work too.

While its true that Scripture doesnt discuss the notion of 'retirement', it does discuss inheritance. They really are two aspects of the same thing.

[HeIsEnough]

Its also good to keep in mind that the American version of retirement more closely resembles a man building a bigger barn to hold all his goodies while he relaxed.

[Homesick777]

The Retirement Plan That Can't Fail

Revival is blazing a path across Asia and Africa unlike ever before, but the missionaries are always short of funds to go the next mile and deliver even more souls into the Kingdom of God.

There are many Christians that can't imagine in their hearts that we'll still be here in 5 years, but their minds are still quite focused on amassing an amount that in 15-25 years will give them $XXX millions of dollars on which to retire. Where's the reasoning? That bulging 401k quarterly statement is nothing more than TP in Heaven.

For those who are willing and able, wouldn't it be a wonderful blessing to both you and the Kingdom of God to NOW redirect some of those retirement funds you probably won't ever get to use to world missions and provide the funds for perhaps 10,000 or 100,000 souls to come to know and receive Christ before the Rapture? Your treasures stored up in Heaven will be having those new Christians meet you inside the Gates, thanking you for your generosity which enabled them to hear the gospel. Are we not now looking for "the fullness of the Gentiles" to usher in the Rapture?

This message is never well received. In fact, it usually sucks all the air out of the room. But even if this message only speaks to one who is willing to hear, it's worth repeating.

[Robinbobbin]

I guess I don't look at retirement savings the way others might. I don't look at it as a means of taking exotic vacations or other luxuries like that. Rather, i see those savings (if we are still here to use them) as a means of putting food on the table, paying the utilities, clothing ourselves, paying property taxes and hopefully being a blessing to others. I'm in my 30s - its unlikely Social Security or Medicare will be around when we hit that point in life, so its either our responsibility to plan ahead or become a burden on our family. While I have no doubt the Lord can provide and will provide, I see nothing wrong with making sure we are not a burden on our children or other family members at that point in life.

I guess I look at it this way - if the 401K becomes your idol or where you place your faith in your future, there is a BIG problem. If you are simply using it as one means of providing for your family in the future but realize fully that God is in control of all things and your faith is to be placed in him and him alone, I do not see a problem saving.

Everything points at the rapture happening very soon, but the fact is we're operating on God's time. Not ours. So we will live our lives trying to be blessings to others and trying to reach others at every possible juncture. But, we're also going to plan for tomorrow and do our best to provide for our family the way God instructs us to in 1 Timothy 5:8.