Just when you thought it was safe to go into retirement – the bottom fails out. That is the tragic reality for many Americans who are retired or hoped to be before long. The economic crisis has wreaked havoc with individual portfolios, the value of 401k’s, stocks, and just about everything in between.
According to AARP, even before the current crisis, some one in five people had put off retirement and six in ten workers 45 and older said they were delaying retirement and expected to work longer. About one in four said they’re working longer hours at work to try to make ends meet. For many, economic stress has meant that their standard of living has been lowered, resulting in cutting back on vacations, travel and other forms of entertainment.
Few would not acknowledge frustration and pain of working toward a material goal for an entire lifetime, only to see it quickly slip into oblivion. But there are far worse things in life. There is the failure to adequately prepare spiritually for the future beyond this life.
In addition to what should be common sense, the Bible also warns about counting too heavily on material things that are unstable at best. The Old Testament book of Proverbs repeatedly speaks to the unwise reliance on wealth and other material assets. And it comes from a man who was rich beyond words. ”He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage." (Proverbs 11:28) “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings: they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)
This author’s wise and compelling words, and others like them, are best understood when viewed in light of One who is the very sum of all wisdom and truth. In Matthew’s account, Jesus spoke to the issue of anxiety over worldly cares and fragile possessions. In Matthew 6:31-34 we 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
As the economic fear continues its growing grip on the nation, not even the most gifted of leaders can instantly fix the fiasco or predict the the future. It is beyond them now and always will be. But those who seek God's solutions to life’s problems, whether simple or complex, will find infinite assets and irrevocable promises. (Hebrews13:5) And while millions scheme and plot what is their next econonic move, hopefully wise Christians will take one other piece of sound advice – this time from the New Testament wisdom book for daily practical living.
"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15)
Bill Breckenridge
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