Treasuring True Life in the Encore
What we treasure most is revealed by how we spend our time, our habits, and what most often occupies our thoughts. The common narrative of retirement is that it’s finally “my time” after career ends can be a disastrous thought process.
The problem isn't enjoying retirement. The problem is making our self-centered enjoyment the primary purpose of retirement.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 gives us meaningful perspective and warning on what we should treasure when we reach retirement:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
Our greatest treasure is not in how much we possess, or how much time is ours, but how much we treasure God Himself. He provides salvation through Christ, purpose for this life, and hHis provision to us is what we generously share with others. His provision is not just enjoyed personally but generously shared with others.
The purpose of retirement is not to gratify ourselves but to experience more of Jesus and invest in relationships with people.
Treasuring God for Who He Is
While retirement is the privilege of not having to earn income, there is still a great amount of fear about finances. I’ve heard from lots of people who are scared about no longer pulling a paycheck and drawing down on the investments they’ve spent decades saving.
The charge in verse 17 is for Christians to not “put their hope in wealth” but rather to love and experience God as our greatest treasure. While we believe financial stewardship is important, we ultimately trust that God is the creator of all life, provider of every good gift, sustainer of all, and the one who brings all work to completion His good timing. Without Him, we have nothing of eternal value, and our lives are bankrupt of purpose.
Retirement is an inflection point to treasure God, receive more joy from God, and place more trust in God, than in any financial resource.
Treasuring What God Is Doing
When we treasure God for who He is, we want to celebrate and participate in God’s work in the world. Henry Blackaby wrote, “Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work.” One of the great opportunities of retirement is having margin to recalibrate our time and energy to where God invites us to go.
1 Timothy 6:18 commands us to be “rich in good deeds.” The evidence and byproduct of treasuring God is a humble recognition that all we have received is an opportunity to be generous on every occasion so that God would be praised.
One of the first ways to be generous is by being available. Availability is to both God and neighbor. Being available is a prerequisite to generosity. Here are a few questions we might ask about being available:
Am I asking God to make me available? Or am I asking Him to bless the ideas I have in mind?
What keeps me from being available? Fear, control, apathy, or passivity?
How does my own comfort compete with my availability?
Being available is not just having time in your calendar. It is a willingness to go when God calls us to serve.
Let’s consider how to participate in what God is doing:
Caring for an aging parent, which is an increasingly common but often overlooked aspect of retirement. This is not just a time to care for them, but to pursue relational wholeness with them
Mentoring a young professional. Find someone in your previous career field, ask good questions, listen deeply, and encourage them toward competency and character.
Invest in intergenerational relationships at church. Consider how to get involved in the generation younger or older than you.
What skills, experiences, and gifts do you have that would benefit others? Ask a friend to speak into your life, because sometimes we are unaware or have blind spots about the ways we could serve.
Where can you serve the local church community? Find a ministry in your city that meets a need in the world that you care about. It could be education, tutoring, job training, athletics, evangelism, or financial literacy. If you feel uncomfortable about taking the first step, ask to meet with a staff member at that ministry to learn more, or invite a friend to go with you! And trust that God will lead you through your initial fears to a place of joy in serving.
Treasuring the Opportunity to Invest in Others
Jesus himself said that He did not come to earth to be served, but to serve others (Mark 10:45). It is our joy to invest in others in our retirement years. This commitment to others is a reflection of the love of God to us as well as our love for Him.
During career years, relationships may have mattered, but they had to fit within and around the career calendar. In retirement, we have an opportunity to build our calendar around relationships.
Sometimes we think we need to have enough accumulated wisdom or expertise to invest in others. But we established we need to be available. The next step is being curious.
You do not need to possess infinite wisdom to invest in someone else’s life. Only God has infinite wisdom, but He does promise to give us wisdom if we ask (James 1:5).
Two curious questions will help you in this process:
“What do you want?” This is a question Jesus asks in John 1:38. Some people will know; others will need help getting clarity. Keep asking questions to get there.
“How can I help?” Asking this question does not obligate you to anything specific, but it does demonstrate your willingness to serve.
These questions free you from having the answers. Instead, you’re creating space for open dialogue through deep listening.
Treasuring That Which Is Truly Life
1 Timothy 6:19 says that treasuring God and being generous is how we “take hold of that which is truly life.”
We spend decades preparing financially for retirement. But the gospel offers us something greater: taking hold of true life. It’s found in treasuring God above all else. It is making yourself available to others. Becoming curious about how to best love and serve people. And being generous with what God has entrusted to you.
That’s the life we’re taking hold of. It’s the best retirement we could ever experience.
Wherever you are in the process of thinking about your Encore, there are a few simple next steps to choose from:
If you’d like to talk one-on-one, I’d be glad to connect.
Or if you’d rather ease into the conversation, you’re welcome to join us for one of our weekly lunches.
