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\u00a0[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Financial experts will tell you that if you don\u2019t participate in an IRA, a 401k, or some <\/strong>type of financial investment program for the future, then you\u2019re not really building much security. It\u2019s becoming increasingly common these days for people to take personal responsibility and plan now for a stable and secure retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to realize that there is nothing un-Christian about preparing and planning for the future by saving some of our money today. In 1 Timothy 5:8 we read that \u201cif any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.\u201d Likewise, Christ laid down the principle of the importance of counting the cost in Luke 14:27\u201333.<\/span><\/p>\n Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have <\/span><\/b><\/span>wherewith<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/span> to complete it?<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,<\/span><\/b><\/span> saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Granted, He was talking about counting the cost of following Him, but the principle is no less true of any other worthwhile endeavor. There\u2019s nothing inappropriate about managing our money practically and wisely. It\u2019s simply a part of good stewardship.<\/span><\/p>\n However, with all the current emphasis on retiring comfortably in this <\/strong>life, is it possible that we are forgetting about another <\/strong>retirement that we all have to face some day? More to the point, are we planning for our spiritual and eternal retirement, or is that something we\u2019ll take care of \u201cone of these days?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Because of the immeasurable sacrifice that the Son of God made, every one of us can have a spiritual <\/strong>\u201cindividual retirement account.\u201d His contribution to it is beyond our comprehension. What we contribute to it is up to us, but the Bible\u2019s teaching on this subject is so clear that we have no excuse for not being prepared for the next life. We are to \u201cwork out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling\u201d (Phi. 2:12). The apostle<\/span><\/p>\n Peter tells us to \u201cgive diligence to make [our] calling and election sure…\u201d (2 Pet. 1:10). \u201cLet us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,\u201d Paul exhorts in Galatians 6:9. Christ commands: \u201clay up for yourselves treasures in heaven<\/strong>…\u201d (Mat. 6:20).<\/span><\/p>\n God has a \u201cretirement plan\u201d for us, the likes of which we can\u2019t begin to imagine. \u201cThe sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us\u201d (Rom. 8:18). What are we contributing towards our secure, spiritual retirement?<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> Andy McClish wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 9, 1981, of which I was editor.]\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1\u00a0[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] Financial experts will tell you that if you don\u2019t participate in an IRA, a 401k, or some type of financial investment program for the future, then you\u2019re not really building…<\/p>\n\n
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