Saving for Retirement

[John81]

It is ALWAYS wise to put money away. Motive doesn't count, necessarily. I mean, its always wise to brush your teeth, whether you are doing it for good health or doing it to kiss or be immoral! Its always wise to put money away...God will judge your motives.

And I don't know anyone who puts money away so "they can be rich while everyone else is barely getting by." This is typical of the thoughts of the class-envious.

We disagree on part of this then because I believe the motive, what's in ones heart, is most important of all.

There are actually a fair amount of people who love to be able to look around and others and boast of how worked harder and now have more than them, or that they were spend-thrifts, never "wasting" money on others so now they have lots of money while others are forced to get by on social security, etc.

It's interesting to note the high percentage of those who gain a sizable financial inheritance who fall into various sins, squander their money, have failed marriages/relationships, raise spoiled, lazy children, etc.

Money ill-gotten, money set back with a wrongful heart, tends to be a curse rather than a blessing to those who receive it.

[Anon]

I just feel I have seen WAY too many Christians who are poor, that look at "richer" people with extreme envy...and it turns into "holier than thou" after that.

We do not have retirement at this point. We do not have savings at this point. We are still trying to pay some things off, plus raise four boys and send two of them to Christian school. We do not own a home.

I could either think myself more spiritual than those in my church who are much more well off than we are...or I can be happy for them and strive towards the same goal....being financially independent as we grow older. Financial independence, is after all, the best testimony to the lost world. I didn't say rich...I said financially independent.

My ultimate goal is to have enough money to be financially independent, not owning debt, as well as enough extra to have to give to those in need. If everyone were "poor and godly" then there would be nobody to help somebody else. I have, just out of my cake money, given friends little bits here or there if I know they have a need. I give church people cakes, occasionally, for free or "donation only". Ultimately it would be wonderful to have enough to do that all the time. Plus have a good testimony on the outside world, that hey, God takes care of His children, honors hard work, OUTSIDE of government subsidization.

[brosmith]

I just feel I have seen WAY too many Christians who are poor' date=' that look at "richer" people with extreme envy...and it turns into "holier than thou" after that.[/quote']

We are neither poor nor rich. However, God has blessed me with a job that provides us with a place to live at no cost (all utilities included). I have had this job for 2 years and as a result (for the first time in our lives) we have a modest emergency fund. We thank God every day that we are able to live debt free.

I am not envious of "richer" people. If God blesses someone with a better job than mine then praise the Lord. I don't consider myself to be more spiritual than anyone else because I may be a little "poorer."



I don't think financial independence is possible (unless you are super rich). However, it is possible to become debt free and stay debt free.

[Anon]

If you are debt free, and you don't live off the government, then you are financially independent.

And there is no sin in being "Rich" (the definition of such varies). It is between the person and God as to whether they have a right heart. I've met "rich" Christians who have been a huge blessing to churches by their funding and donations or even inheritance left to those churches.

[John81]

For someone to think they are more spiritual because they are poor is a sin just the same as one who thinks they are more spiritual because they are rich.

I don't really see the issue of putting money back for the future as an issue of poor vs rich unless and individual or individuals make it such; in which case they are making it something it shouldn't be.

If we were able to put back more at this time we would. If we are able in the future to put back more we likely will. However, as things are right now, it will be some years before that could happen. We need to do some home repairs, including needing a new roof that won't be able to be put off much longer. That was originally on the plans for this year but when gas and food prices skyrocketed, those plans had to be set aside in case we needed that money to get by on, and as it turns out, we did.

Our car has over 200,000 miles on it and we really need to get another one before this one drops dead.

Most of our appliances are in the "old and could drop dead any day" category. We had to buy a new microwave and dryer this year.

Things are very tight here right now. That doesn't make us any more spiritual and it doesn't make us feel any more spiritual than anyone else; it's just the way it is. For those Christians who are doing well I say, "Praise God!"

[heartstrings]

No, you're right; the ant was not lazy, she worked all summer to "provide her meat", but if she had failed to gather enough in the harvest. which is typically in the fall, what would she live on in the winter?

And just because a person is old doesn't mean he/she can't work.

No, but an awful lot of people do not enjoy good health and ARE unable to work when they get old.