Friday, March 02, 2007
Do Missionaries Save for Retirement?
Retirement is a ways away, but its something that needs preparation deciding soon. As many of us leave college, now would be the time to start an IRA for retirement. However, many of us will not have an income to speak of, meaning no social security and no money for an IRA. What will we do as we age? There is a balance here between relying on the Lord to provide and being good stewards. If we decide not to save the money, our older folks will need to be supported. If not by the government and IRAs then our friends/family and by the People of Praise. Are we willing to do this? What might this look like? Does anyone have any words about this?
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8 comments:
Are you saying that People of Praise doesn't have an awesome 50 cents to the dollar 401K program set up? Uh huh. Yes, of course you need to start now saving for retirement. It's much more important when you start putting in then how much. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Well, maybe. If we live in a society that works, I think the elderly ought to live with families and be taken care of by them. They in turn help in the life of the house, watching kids, offering council, etc.
But who is supposed to pay for the elderly is the eldery don't save for retirment? The kids? They are supposed to feed themselves, and their children, and provide a home for the elderly and pay for all of their needs. In a country like this, there has to be some sort of self-sufficiency.
Ah well the elderly work, but in the home. This translates into income. Things like taking care of the kids ($800/month/kid) that's a big deal! Or being able to help with homework, allowing one of the parents to do the finances. Big deal. Even stuff like advice, the elderly folks already went down 'that path' and can tell you it's not a good idea - depending on what it is that advice can be worth a whole ton financially, socially, materially, and spiritually.
You have to put yourself in a position where you can do God's will. This means you must save, not just for retirement, but for the very real possibility of a change in your life.
There's glory in missionary work. And where there's glory, there is sometimes confusion. Give God the glory, beware of it yourself, and listen closely to see if perhaps He wants you to do something a bit more mundane.
Saving for retirement is a bit mundane. I admit, I haven't done as well in this area as I'd like because it's boring, and I'd rather think about other things.
we live in this world, but we are creating an entirely new society to live in. this doesn't make us impractical or daft, it makes us revolutionary. i would like to see the elderly taken care of by the community, but we haven't figured out exactly how that works yet, so for now, discern it, but hopefully in the future, those who give their lives for our work will get our lives poured out for them in return.
August makes a really good point, Rus: 'You have to put yourself in a position where you can do God's will. This means you must save, not just for retirement, but for the very real possibility of a change in your life.'
It's like that guy who asked God to save him while he was drowning in a flood. A large branch floated by, but the guy neglected to grab it, for he was waiting for God's assistance. Then a lifeboat buzzed over and again, the guy declined to get on, for he was awaiting God's action. Finally a helicopter came by and lowered a ladder, but the man still didn't get on. Of course he drowned, and not because of God's refusal to help, but for his own inability to step up and take advantage of the opportunities God presented to him.
So yeah, I would save a little.
I should mention first that I'm a very practical, business-minded person who takes naturally to saving. However, I like this quote from "Chasing the Dragon," "If you had a job, a ticket, accommodation, a sick fund and a pension, you wouldn't need to trust [God]."
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