DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO RETIRE?

A man came to Jesus complaining because he

did not get the part of an inheritance he wanted.

This first comment is not the essence of the post.

But over many, many years I have noticed something.

Nearly every inheritance I have seen people receive

was SQUANDERED.

We want to do good for our children and pass something

on along to them.  But I am beginning to think that 

passing on material things to them - only hurts them.

But this situation is what cause Jesus to say;

"Then he said, 'Beware!  Guard against

every kind of greed.  Life is not measured

by how much you own.'" 

(Luke 12:15 NLT) 

Then Jesus told the people a story about a rich

man with a very prosperous farm.  The crops 

were excellent and he decided to store up enough

to retire.

"But God said to him, 'You fool!  You

will die this very night.  Then who will

get everything you worked for?

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up

earthy wealth but not have a rich

relationship with God."

(Luke 12:20,21 NLT)

This is the only precedent in the Scriptures 

I am aware of for retiring [Other than one 

exception - if you are a Levitical  priest.] and

even in this one God calls the retiree a fool.

What made him a fool.  Concentrating on 

material acquisition rather than a relation

ship with God.

In truth, the poor widow that Jesus tells us

about in chapter twenty one of Luke is better

off than this rich man.  She only had about two

cents, but she gave all she had to God.  And 

Jesus tells us that she gave more than all the

rich people who were putting into the offering

out of their surplus.

Yes, prepare for retirement if that is your 

desire.  But. if you don't put God first in 

your planning you will end up being a fool.