Retirement: Insights From The BibleShembull

What’s in your hand?

Having established your estimated years-left number, let’s take inventory of your situation – where God has placed you and what He has given you – to help see what God may have for you in retirement.

Remember the story of Moses? God meets Moses to tell him that he is the one to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses asks how he will do that, and God asks him the question “What’s in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

God then shows Moses how He will use even his simple shepherd’s staff to display His glory and power to the Egyptians. 

The question today is, what has God put in your hand? What has God given you over the years of your working life? Think of your experiences, skills, talent and also material blessings: finances, home, etc.

Whether you have a lot or a little – whether you have financial concerns about retirement or not – God has already put the things in your hand that He wants to use through you. Now it’s just up to you to be a wise steward of what He has given.

Not sure you've got anything in your hand for God to use?  Then check these Bible examples:

• Moses had only a shepherd’s staff in his hand, but was still called to free the Israelites.  (Exodus 4:1-3)
• David had only a slingshot, but in the name of the LORD, he was able to kill the mighty giant. (1 Samuel 17:40-50)
• A little boy had only 5 loaves + 2 fishes, but given to Jesus it fed over five thousand. (John 6:9-13)

Very likely, you have more than a shepherd’s staff, a slingshot, or a little food in your hand. And, just as God was able to use each of these for His glory, God can use you, regardless of what – how little or how much – you have in your hand at the time of your retirement.

Until now, your may have had your hands full with work and other commitments, but in retirement, the biggest consumer of your time (work) will be gone. And in your hands are exactly those things that God needs you to have for your retirement.

Time, talent and treasure: these are the things that you have. How you use them in the years ahead is important. God cares about your future, and wants to bless you, no matter what’s in your hand and what state you now find yourself in. Just like the Bible says:

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 TLB)

In addition, the Bible goes on to say that God already has plans for how to use what’s in your hand:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

And that those plans to do good with what’s in your hand, carry right through your retirement:

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:14)

These good works and bearing fruit – simple as they sometimes may seem – are all part of building God’s Kingdom here on earth, using your time, talent and treasure well into old age! 

Tomorrow, we will see how you might know or confirm the specifics God’s plan for what’s in your hand and how to apply that in your retirement.

PRAYER

Mighty God, I know you can feed thousands with just a few loaves. Help me to see what you have given me, and to be thankful for that. Bless me as I seek your will in my retirement. In Jesus’ name, Amen.