As we begin the move into unforeseen disability and then into retirement, I have been caused to think wider. What I am learning is not just for myself, but for anyone preparing for the future with wisdom. Seasons of transition often make us more aware of how fragile life can be and how quickly our circumstances can change. Money is one of the most visible areas where those shifts show up. Yet Scripture reminds us that money is never to be our master—it is a tool to serve us and, more importantly, to serve God’s purposes.
Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV). The goal is not simply to have money, nor to spend it freely, but to manage it faithfully in a way that honors the Lord.
For many, retirement is painted with dreams of traveling, eating out, or enjoying leisure after years of work. Yet alongside those dreams come realities—rising medical expenses, unexpected household needs, and the sobering truth that our income streams shift. This tension often tempts people into unhealthy financial choices: relying on credit cards and paying high interest, withdrawing from retirement accounts early and facing penalties and taxes, or turning to the lottery as a supposed “solution” to financial shortfalls.
The lottery in particular can be destructive. It sells the illusion of quick wealth, but more often it drains limited resources, leaving families with less for true needs. It appeals to the false dream of paying off debts or securing a lifestyle we long for, but it ultimately distracts us from God’s call to work, save, give, and steward wisely. Proverbs 13:11 warns, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
The same is true of wasteful spending on interest payments. Every dollar lost to interest is money that could have been saved for unforeseen expenses, invested for future needs, or used for generosity toward others.
Another dangerous mindset is believing that interest is simply “part of life.” But paying interest unnecessarily is throwing money away. The Bible cautions us: “The borrower is the slave of the lender” (Proverbs 22:7, ESV). Every dollar wasted on interest is money that could have gone toward needs, savings, or blessings for others. Interest is not harmless—it is a thief that quietly robs us of peace.
Equally damaging is the choice to pull from retirement funds too early, accepting heavy taxes and penalties as if they were a minor inconvenience. In reality, this is sacrificing tomorrow’s security for today’s impatience. God’s Word teaches, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5, ESV). Hastiness in money decisions—whether in borrowing, withdrawing, or spending—erodes the very stability we will need in later years.
Still others embrace the philosophy of “spending it all before I die.” While it may sound practical, it ignores the truth that only God holds our future. James writes, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14, ESV). We do not control the day of our death, nor should we live as though our timeline is ours to set. Spending with the intent to exhaust everything before death is not wise stewardship—it is arrogance. Scripture offers a different vision: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22, ESV). God’s call is to think generationally, not selfishly, and to use money in ways that bless beyond our own lifetimes.
So what does faithful stewardship look like in retirement? It means saving for unforeseen expenses rather than wasting resources on fleeting pleasures. It means preparing for medical needs, car repairs, or household costs with the understanding that wise planning honors God. It means saving not only for necessities but also for dreams—vacations, hobbies, and family experiences—when they are pursued responsibly and without debt. It means refusing to let money become our master. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV). If we live with money as our servant, directed toward God’s purposes, then it becomes a blessing rather than a burden.
Most importantly, faithful stewardship means keeping eternity in view. Travel, comfort, and leisure have their place, but they are temporary. Investments in people, generosity, the spread of the gospel, and acts of love carry eternal weight. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20, ESV).
The truth is simple: wasting money through gambling, unnecessary interest, penalties, or reckless spending destroys peace and undermines trust in God. But stewarding money His way brings freedom. It creates stability for today, hope for tomorrow, and a legacy that reaches into eternity. Retirement is not the end of stewardship—it is a new opportunity to walk in deeper trust, proving that God’s wisdom is always greater than the empty promises of wealth.
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