Retirement: Insights From The BibleНамуна

A parable for retirement?

Today, we look at the parable of the Ten Talents, and to be sure we’re all on the same page, exit the devotion now to first complete the Bible reading and come back once you’ve read it.

Now, let’s re-tell this parable with a special twist. This could be painful, upsetting and maybe even make you angry, but bear with me – God has a message for your retirement in this.

In the updated parable, imagine the first servant as a young college kid. The master gives him one bag of great value to invest. The college kid is too busy chasing youthful pastimes to even look in the bag and shoves it under the bed.

The ending is not good for our college friend – the master is furious on his return, telling the kid that he should have put the contents of the bag to work, even if it was just on deposit at the bank. The kid says he/she didn’t know what was in the bag and pleads for a second chance, but the master says it’s too late, taking away the bag and giving this instruction to the security guards:

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)

The second servant might be somewhere in mid-life, trying to balance work, family, church and social obligations. Life is busy, but the mid-lifer has a closer look at what’s inside, discovering cash, skills and experiences which are all useful in life.

The mid-lifer then makes a plan to use what’s now placed in his hands for a variety of purposes – helping others at work, serving in the community, and even giving some of it to those less fortunate. In doing so, the mid-lifer makes quite an impact both at work and in the community, witnessing to others both with actions and words. People at church sometimes even refer to the mid-lifer as really living as the hands and feet of Jesus.

On the master’s return, the mid-lifer is praised and even given a promotion! Check this out:

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:23)

The third servant has just entered retirement and is given a whopping ten bags from the master – a retirement package of more value than most of us could ever dream of!

Although the third servant has worked hard for many years, today’s attitude has become more self-centered, thinking it is finally to kick back and enjoy. Looking inside the bags, the retiree is excited to see stacks of cash, skills and experiences. The immediate thought that comes to mind is how much better retirement is now going to be, and how everything on the retirement bucket list is suddenly in reach. The motto for our retiree is just like that referenced in another of Jesus’ parables:

You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. (Luke 12:19)

When the master comes back, our retiree is half-way through a 2-year pleasure trip across the continent, driving a motorhome with a sticker that says “Spending my children’s inheritance!” On meeting the master, our retiree friend reports that six of the bags of value are in use as retirement assets (vacation home, club membership, motorhome & boat), two are on deposit at the bank, and two have been invested in a few activities to gain an additional bag. As a result, the third servant has only five bags to hand back to the master.

Oh-oh… remember how badly it ended for the college kid who returned everything given? What now for the retiree returning only five out of ten? Is it possible that the master might say:

And cut that worthless and selfish servant into pieces, for this servant knew what it is to be responsible, yet put most of the talents into a life of pleasure, and spending only minimal time to seek a return on what was given.

Ouch! That really hits home.

But don’t check out just yet - tomorrow comes the good news.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I want to hear the words “well done, good and faithful servant.” Forgive me when I think that I have earned what you have placed in my hands, or even that it is just to be used for my pleasures. Help me to know your will, and to have the courage and strength to live for you. In Jesus’ name and to your glory. Amen.