36: A Friend’s Story
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
THERE ARE MANY ARTICLES that speak to what one needs to do in that last year before formal retirement. But I love stories. Of course, we’re all in different places, and while God asks one thing of one person, He directs very differently with another. The point is, are we listening to Him? Here’s a story from a friend of mine.
Many would say they wouldn’t want a career working for decades with the same organization, however my career, with just one multinational company, was both interesting and challenging. One of the things it allowed me to do was to plan ahead, knowing my job security was fairly stable. I started thinking about retirement years before retirement age. I planned to retire early, preferably around sixty-two. I have many other interests and was looking forward to pursuing them while still healthy.
As the age of sixty-two drew near, I started praying about what the next chapter should look like. I was thinking about things like short-term missions, part-time ministry work, and benevolent volunteering. One day, while I was praying, a new thought came to me —the thought was that the salary from a [developed nation] executive job could do considerably more in the [developing country] than the work of an older retired executive guy with a hammer or a computer. After my prayer time, I couldn’t shake this thought. I kept praying and thinking about this idea and whether the thought could’ve been prompted by God. The prayers continued, the thought developed, and soon I was convinced God wanted me to keep working beyond when I had planned to retire and to give all my salary away for whatever period I continued to work.
The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Giving away my salary at this point in my career was way more effective than giving my time. Even though I enjoyed my work, working another year would be a sacrifice. But giving away my income would bring so much more purpose and joy to my work. So I made a commitment to God: I would give one hundred percent of my take-home pay and continue working for an extra year. It was an incredibly blessed time. Each month of giving was filled with amazing joy as I brought needs before God and prayed about what cause to give to.
The story could end with what I have shared above, but as it is with most God stories, they become more interesting as we live them out. Shortly after I made the commitment to continue working and give away my income, there was a large restructuring of our company. My actual role didn’t change, with the same pay and position as a VP, but I reported to another VP who was a micromanager. It appeared to me that my role became redundant. I had committed to God to continue working, but now as I felt redundant, I couldn’t begin to imagine a whole year like that —it seemed unbearable. It felt as if God were testing my resolve. But I had made a commitment. So I prayed about it and made a plan. I went to the president and suggested my role had become redundant and asked if they would consider a retirement package. After considering this for a month, they made an offer. I accepted and was able to continue monthly giving of my salary until well after I was no longer working. I was able to give of my time and my salary without having to go to work —an incredible turn of events. It left me thinking that God is pretty amazing!
Many of my peers are in similar situations —they have the means near the end of their careers to live without a continuing salary. Many grapple with the “when” of retirement. It’s something often thought about long after there is a need for further continuing income.
Now I reflect on this giving plan God planted in me and about the impact similar plans could have on our peer group, on our church, and on the Christian world at large. What if this concept caught on and we had hosts of people working an extra year before retiring —and giving it all away. Why not? That is a world-changing idea! Could this idea grow to capture the imaginations of many others who are contemplating retirement?
We all have a story. May this one give you a new perspective and, as Hebrews 10:24 states, stir you in thinking about how you can express love in action.
Questions
- What ideas does this story spark in you?
- How do you envision serving God now and in the years to come? How can you think creatively about how to accomplish these goals?
- This story shows a practical example of trusting God. My friend put Matthew 6:33 into action. What does seeking God’s Kingdom first mean to you?
- What steps can you take to seek God’s Kingdom first in your life?
- What stories from your life could inspire others to serve God in creative ways? Consider writing your own story and finding a way to share it with others.