Retirement is leaving one’s occupation permanently, usually because of age and diminished capabilities or inabilities to perform job functions. Before the Flood of Noah, human life expectancy was considerably longer, as can be seen by Methuselah’s exceptionally long age of 969 years (Genesis 5:27). After the Flood, Moses indicates a significantly shorter life expectancy of 70 years, maybe 80. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10 KJV). Modern health care and living standards in developed countries indicate longer life spans, such as Japan, where 100 years is increasingly common. Yet, falling birth rates, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease have become increasingly more significant factors, affecting annuities, pensions, and end of years quality of life. But still, for the righteous, our expectation is from the LORD. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6).
Remaining useful and active to the end of life expectancy is the correct understanding and attitude of the godly. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). Though retiring to circumstances appropriate to our age is understandable, our short term goal should not overshadow the long term reality of eternity. “16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21). Never lose sight of the reality of God.
(The following is a longer read, but hopefully, not too long. Scan ahead to preview.)
All of this prepares us for the Parable of the Unjust Steward, which is the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Christ’s parable begins with a rich man, whose steward or manager had unscrupulously managed his financial affairs (16:1). Rightly, the rich man demands, “Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward” (16:2). The scoundrel employee “said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses” (16:3-4). Since he had already stolen from his employer, he hatched a plot to further steal from him, to curry favor with his benefactors, hoping they would remember him in the future, after he lost his current employment. “5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore” (16:5-7).
Most commentators agree, the “rich man” is the “lord,” who commends the “unjust steward,” therefore, it is not Christ commending the wicked steward. So, Christ does not condone the unscrupulous conduct of the steward. But, why would the defrauded employer commend someone stealing from himself, unless he would craftily do the same thing to his boss? “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (16:8). Here, Jesus adds God’s estimation of the unjust steward’s actions. The world is smarter at being unscrupulous than the godly are at being godly. This can only mean, ‘Laodicean-sometimes-hot-sometimes-cold’ discipleship makes no gain for the kingdom of God, while the ‘unabashed-take-everything-for-yourself’ world seems to be winning. The godly seem to be continually laying again the first foundation and not going on. “1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).
Jesus Directs His Disciple-Employees’ Conduct (Luke 16:1-13)
First, diligently use your present circumstances to prepare for the future, i.e., “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9).
“Make yourselves friends by how you use your worldly wealth” (16:9 NET). This time, the Boss is sanctioning our use of His money to make friends, while doing His business. Only be sure your actions are primarily for His gain. He doesn’t mind, if others become our friends. In fact, He encourages it.
As far as preparing for the future is concerned, we are not to become anxious about the uncertainties of the future. We are to literally have no anxious thought about the future. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (Matthew 6:31).
Prudent planning has long been the wisdom taught in the Scriptures. Diligent labor is the example of the ant. “6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8 ).
“When ye fail” (Luke 16:9) means our ability to provide for ourselves comes to an end, e.g., by old age, failure of health, accident, etc.
“They may receive you into everlasting habitations” (16:9) does not mean any earthly means can gain for you Heaven, but God will use those means to ensure you will safely enter into Heaven. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt motivates the world to tightly clutch their security for the future, e.g., money belts with $100 dollar bills, clutching purses with money while laying on their death bed, accumulated goods, property, annuities, and savings accounts with no inheritors but the state. But, seeking God’s Kingdom first ensures God will provide your earthly means. You look after His business, and He will look after your business. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Second, faithfulness in your dealings with the small things of the LORD’s business will be reciprocated to you in His dealings with your affairs. And, your faithfulness in small things will increasingly grow to larger things. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Like 16:10).
Unfaithfulness in handling “unrighteous mammon [Greek, mammōnas, wealth]” (16:11) indicates untrustworthiness to handle “true riches” (16:11), which are the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). How much wealth would you trade for understanding the wisdom of God? Remember, man may sell education, but only the Holy Spirit can grant you understanding. “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:13).
Third, we serve our Lord, not for any other reason than He is worthy (Revelation 4:11). Any other motivation is wrong. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
What our sovereign God chooses to give us is entirely His choosing, and not for us to dispute. “And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:12). If He awards us a mansion (John 14:2), we would be grateful for a job as a simple doorkeeper in His house (Psalm 84:10). If He grants us a position to make decisions about how He judges angels (1Corinthians 6:3), we would wonder how He could be so gracious to share His affairs with us. We do not labor for reward, because we have been purchased by the blood of Christ, as His purchased possession (6:20; 7:23). If He should choose to reward us for serving Him, we would receive it with gratitude as an honor of His affection for us (Matthew 25:21, 23). We love Him and would serve Him simply because He is worthy. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
Fourth, we serve God with a singleness of heart that allows not for holding on to God and wealth simultaneously, since it is impossible to do so. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).
Perhaps this is one of the most insidious lies to be promoted by the Father of Lies, that we can be both holy and sinful at the same time. That we can serve both God and mammon simultaneously. He must have told himself that lie, when he committed the first sin. Holy sinfulness or sinful holiness is not only confusion, but a lie. When Christian doctrine becomes interpreted by the confusion of blaming a sinful nature for our commission of sin, then the enemy has succeeded in neutralizing the godly. When we confuse Physical Depravity with Moral Depravity, then we become confused about the nature of sin. Notice Adam and Eve were still physically alive after they sinned, but Yahweh promised they would die. True, they experienced spiritual death, and they were spiritually restored by Yahweh’s covering of their sins through the shed blood of an animal to cover their nakedness. If the covering of their sin made them spiritually alive, how were they still dead? Because their physical flesh was now dying. Physical Depravity is simply dying. That is Physical Depravity, which is simply the tendency of physical bodies to die, started the moment they sinned, has continued after the Fall of Man, and is physically passed on to all succeeding generations, until the Almighty declares, “There shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3). On the other hand, genetics and physical flesh are not Moral Depravity, since Moral Depravity is simply sinning. We are sinners, when we are sinning. When we are forgiven, we are no longer sinners, unless God forgives us, while we are still impenitent and in rebellion against Him. The Gospel only authorizes God’s love to forgive us after we lay down our weapons of rebellion. Only the Holy Spirit working in a human heart could cause anyone to repent. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25).
In conclusion, Retirement Planning must first take into consideration the Kingdom of God, since everything else depends on it. The best plans requires the greatest understanding, which only the Holy Spirit can provide. May God bless you as you consider His plans for your future. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23).
We Need A Miracle 