¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV)

Thoughts of retirement seep into my head these days, but I concern myself with wondering when I will have enough to do so. I believe, there is a difference between preparing for something like retirement and hoarding riches. The difference comes in when we can clearly see our abundance vs having enough to live and put back a bit to retire.

I believe the last line in our scripture is the pivotal key.

In truth, I look deeply at our retirement savings about once a year with our financial advisor. Between those times I do not really obsess about what we have there. I leave that to God to take care of. Like my father, money has always been a means to an end for me. I have strived to be generous and help where I feel like we need to help. I have given to friends and family, to my church and to other ministries. I can’t really say I give out of our abundance, but I give out of a driving reason to do so for others.

Now, I am not saying I have the formula here. Many others are far better than I am in this area. I am only saying that I look at what God has graced us with and try to use it accordingly.

Reflect on: Your relationship with your wealth and possessions. Do you own them or do they own you?