Do you remember the television commercial from a few years ago, ‘Freedom 55’; a retirement plan that would give us the freedom to retire early and enjoy the fruits of our labour? With the first wave of baby-boomers now into their retirement years and with many at Valley who are now well into the season of retirement, perhaps it is time to rethink our retirement plans.
In his book Rethinking Retirement John Pipers observes that most of the suggestions that this world offers us for our retirement years are bad ideas. They call us to live in a way that makes this world look like our treasure.
Be careful of buying into the lie; be careful of becoming self-absorbed. Jesus would say, be careful, for where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21). Be careful! As we grow older there is a danger in fading from our commitment to Christ; in our worship and service of the One who is truly our Treasure!
Piper observes: Finishing life to the glory of Christ means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ that we are set free from the cravings that create so much emptiness and uselessness in retirement. Instead, knowing that we have an infinitely satisfying and everlasting inheritance in God just over the horizon of life makes us zealous in our few remaining years here to spend ourselves in the sacrifices of love, not the accumulation of comforts.
The Psalmist would pray (71:18)…even to old age and grey hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
And the Apostle Paul would write: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)
I want to exhort you again to stay faithful! Stay faithful to His church and in serving Christ and blessing others in His name. Don’t bail out! Don’t fade down the stretch! As Piper observe: Finishing life to the glory of Christ means using whatever strength and eyesight and hearing and mobility and resources we have left to treasure Christ and in that joy to serve people.
May God give us a passion in our final years to spend our days living in such a way that He is revealed to be our highest treasure and our ultimate source of joy and satisfaction. The key says Piper to finishing life to the glory of Christ…we must be satisfied in Him.
He must be our Treasure!
In his book Rethinking Retirement John Pipers observes that most of the suggestions that this world offers us for our retirement years are bad ideas. They call us to live in a way that makes this world look like our treasure.
Be careful of buying into the lie; be careful of becoming self-absorbed. Jesus would say, be careful, for where you treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21). Be careful! As we grow older there is a danger in fading from our commitment to Christ; in our worship and service of the One who is truly our Treasure!
Piper observes: Finishing life to the glory of Christ means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ that we are set free from the cravings that create so much emptiness and uselessness in retirement. Instead, knowing that we have an infinitely satisfying and everlasting inheritance in God just over the horizon of life makes us zealous in our few remaining years here to spend ourselves in the sacrifices of love, not the accumulation of comforts.
The Psalmist would pray (71:18)…even to old age and grey hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
And the Apostle Paul would write: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)
I want to exhort you again to stay faithful! Stay faithful to His church and in serving Christ and blessing others in His name. Don’t bail out! Don’t fade down the stretch! As Piper observe: Finishing life to the glory of Christ means using whatever strength and eyesight and hearing and mobility and resources we have left to treasure Christ and in that joy to serve people.
May God give us a passion in our final years to spend our days living in such a way that He is revealed to be our highest treasure and our ultimate source of joy and satisfaction. The key says Piper to finishing life to the glory of Christ…we must be satisfied in Him.
He must be our Treasure!
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