If you’re of my vintage, it’s likely that you have or are planning to retire. I pulled the trigger four years ago and it has really been a wonderful thing. It is a huge, life altering decision and must not be taken lightly or done in haste. To ensure a smooth transition, planning is required. Most discussions of this nature involve working with a financial planner. Luke 14:28 advises financial planning, comparing it to sitting down and estimating the cost before building a tower.

A necessary commodity in our life as we move about in this world is money. Money provides us shelter, food and clothing. However, as followers of Jesus, we believe that God owns everything and our money is nothing more than a tool we use to provide for ourselves and the ones we love. You will find that in Psalm 24:1 hearing "the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it". We have all heard the phrase "money talks" suggesting that money provides influence and power for people who have it. "Money talks" seems to imply that the more money we have, the more people listen to us. Well the real deal is, money does not talk. Money has no voice BUT what if it did ??

If money could talk, and if it were honest, it would say: "Although people chase me, I don’t matter like they think I do. I have never helped anyone live forever and they can’t spend me after they are gone. The things I have helped people buy never brought them the everlasting happiness they expected. I have never been able to provide class or decency and often the people who had the most of me had the least of these."

I remember a wise man saying "money can tell you what something costs, but not what it’s worth". With that said, it’s never too early to plan for retirement and money will be a huge part of the equation. However, be warned that other things, that money can’t buy, will be a main ingredient in your days when your career is over. Being surrounded with loving relationships and a firm footed connection with Jesus will bring you far deeper joy than a toy. But those of you that share my vintage probably have been hearing this for a long time. Don’t forget it.