When A Pension Becomes A Living

The economy is sagging. Even all the politicians now freely admit it. And the ballooning financial crisis means far more than slumping home sales, empty gas tanks, and political ammo for those seeking office in November.

As the nation senses and feels the steady decline, some Americans are being forced to do something they never dreamed of. Those fortunate enough to have 401k type accounts are beginning to tap into what was to be their long-term financial security in the retirement years.

Fidelity Investments is among the nation's largest mutual fund providers. The company has said that 'hardship withdrawals' surged 17 percent in 2007 with record withdrawals occurring in December. A company spokesman stated, "What we're talking about is people spending their retirement now and lowering their standard of living when they retire." Experts also fear that, should the trend continue, many more Americans may have to rely solely on an already overburdened Social Security system.

Proper preparation is certainly admirable and even biblical as passages like Timothy 5:7-8 reveal. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." But in Matthew 6, Jesus addressed an over-emphasis on material things to the detriment of spiritual preparation. Verses 31-33 read, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Then the Lord follows up with the logic for His own words and why it is folly to store up, get hung up, or look up to the fragile things of this world. In Matthew 6, and beginning with verse 19, He warns, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal."

Life is precious but all too fragile and temporary. To spend it on fading physical and material pursuits is not only foolish, it is eternally dangerous. Besides, in the final analysis only a few things can be fully known and fully relied upon. The first, and most crucial, has to with salvation and comes by way of 1 John 5:11-13. The Apostle wrote, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

Other biblical issues come by way of amazing knowable promises given to the believer in Christ. These, however, are post-salvation and are seen in Scripture passages like Matthew 6 and Ephesians 1. Matthew speaks of certain rewards that are guaranteed to those who "seek first the kingdom of God" by serving Christ. Verse 20 states, "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Then another related promise of eternal security comes through the Apostle Paul's words in verses 13-14 of Ephesians chapter one. "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

The U.S., and world economy for that matter, will forever be prone to ups and downs, gains and losses, peaks and valleys. But all whose spiritual foundation is firm know that God is in control. They alone know and understand the reality of Ephesians 1:11-12. "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

God people are indeed unique and special, since they know full well that they have a purpose that will last into the next life and is higher than simple economic survival or prosperity in this life.

Bill Breckenridge