This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship. It was initially published in January 2018 but was updated in January 2026.
The beginning of a new year is when many people plan and make resolutions. If you’re five or ten years from retirement, you may be increasingly focused on that transition.
When my wife and I reached “full retirement age” as defined by the Social Security Administration in 2018, retirement planning became increasingly concrete for me, even while still working full-time. Now, several years into actual retirement, I can confirm that the holistic planning framework I’ll share in this article remains as valuable for living retirement well as it was for planning it.
Retirement planning can be challenging. Most people focus mainly on the financial aspects, which is understandable since it’s hard to retire comfortably without adequate resources. Many of the topics I write about on this blog address financial matters. But when it comes to retirement, there’s much more to consider than just finances, as crucial as they are.
The tagline for this blog reads, “Save Diligently, Invest Wisely, Give Generously” (all mainly financial activities), but ends with “LIVE ABUNDANTLY.” That’s the end-game—living a productive, fulfilling, abundant life to the glory of God!
The “Wheel of Life” Planning Tool
A tool many planners and coaches find helpful for significant life-stage transitions, such as retirement, is the “Wheel of Life.” I introduce this because it provides a useful framework to help you think more broadly about the different aspects of your life as you plan for—and then live in—retirement.
I don’t know if he created it, but I first came across this in Dan Miller’s excellent book, “48 Days to the Work You Love” (pg. 55). The wheel looks like a pie with seven slices representing different areas of concern. The main purpose of the “Wheel of Life” is to help you take a broader, more balanced perspective on your planning. He points out the need to plan to achieve some level of success in each area: “No one wants to be in the hospital with a heart attack, even if you have $5 million in the bank. And no one wants to be in great physical shape but rejected by family and friends. You cannot justify success in one area at the expense of success in another.”
I’m also reminded of Jesus’ words in Mark 8:36 (ESV): “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
I like this concept as I tend to view retirement stewardship holistically and am concerned with all areas of life. As I wrote in the “Retirement Stewardship Manifesto“:
Stewardship is a whole-life concern. You understand stewardship as mainly about being a faithful follower of Christ, caring for and managing all that God has given you. Stewardship is not just one part of the Christian life concerned only with giving tithes and offerings; it involves every aspect of your life in all the stages of your life, including so-called “retirement.”
Dan’s wheel lists seven main life categories: career, financial, social, family, physical, personal development, and spiritual. To adapt it more specifically to retirement stewardship, I made a few rewordings and added one additional category: Fun, Work, Finances (and Giving), Daily Management, Physical, Relationships, Mental, and Spiritual. My modified Retirement Stewardship “Wheel of Life” looks like this:
I would summarize the Retirement Stewardship Life Wheel this way: As you steward the time, talents, and treasure that God has given you based on biblical principles in all the different areas of life, you will be able to fulfill your purpose, mission, and calling. And in doing so, you will find joy, peace, and fulfillment in your life.
Although each segment is the same size in the diagram, one could argue that some are more important than others. For example, as a Christian, your relationship with God and continued spiritual growth should be the highest priority. But among the other areas, you may put a higher priority on “fun” than “work” in retirement, depending on how you define them.
Even if you’re many years away from retirement, you probably give some thought to these areas based on your situation. If not, you may want to consider using the Wheel for that purpose. In the following sections, I describe each dimension in the context of retirement stewardship, now enhanced with reflections from actually living in retirement.
How This Relates to the Biblical Framework
Note: This Wheel of Life framework complements the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship I’ve developed more recently, which organizes retirement planning around three biblical principles: Self-Sustaining (planning wisely to avoid burdening others), Caregiving (preparing to both give and receive care), and Ministry (bearing fruit in old age). The Wheel addresses HOW to live well across all dimensions of life; the Framework addresses WHY and grounds retirement stewardship in biblical theology. Used together, they provide both a theological foundation and a practical balance in life.
Fun
Although the Bible acknowledges that life can be hard, it also encourages us to have fun (Ecclesiastes 2:22-25). God has given us many good things to enjoy, and we should partake of them while being careful to avoid evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, James 4:17).
“Fun” in this context could be described as leisure, recreation, or even as “play.” These are the ways you choose to spend your spare time in retirement, which you will probably have more of, by the way. Do you have hobbies, creative pursuits, or outdoor activities that you enjoy? Then go for it! Having fun is a natural, God-given human experience, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your life.
“Fun” will look different for each of us. For some, it could be some form of creative expression. For example, my wife likes to paint and also to make jewelry. I enjoy reading and writing (hence, this blog) and also outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. I can play the guitar (a little), and I would like to learn how to play bluegrass, maybe even as part of a little band. Retirement is a great time to pursue those kinds of things, and it’s never too late to find something new.
Many retirees want to travel. My wife and I have traveled a little, and travel has been enjoyable in retirement—though I’ve learned that balancing travel with other commitments (church, family, writing) requires more intentionality than I expected. I’ve seen very few of the National Parks out West, so that remains high on my list. You can travel purely for leisure, but it can also provide adventure, inspiration, education, and opportunities to serve others, such as going on a mission trip.
Physical
This refers to your physical health and location, the type of home, etc., your physical condition, and your surroundings.
We all need to try to keep our bodies as healthy as possible because our physical capabilities and limitations largely affect how much we can pursue the other things on “the Wheel.”
Although the Bible doesn’t promise us good health, especially as we age, we’re nonetheless encouraged to care for our bodies as best we can (Proverbs 3:7-8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 3 John 1:2). Our health can be affected by the decisions we make. We can regulate things such as diet, exercise, and other health habits while avoiding things that aren’t good for us.
I used to like playing tennis, softball, and running. Now, because of injuries, my exercise of choice is walking and hiking. I have a 5.5-mile route that I regularly walk (although my wife says I “trudge,” whatever that means). My wife enjoys exercising and has recently been getting the help of a trainer. She had a full reverse shoulder replacement a few years ago after an accidental fall, and the training has helped her. These are things we’ve been able to continue and even prioritize more in retirement.
We know that our physical health is ultimately in God’s hands, but, as with so many things, we have to do our part. The onus is on us to do what we can to stay healthy and engaged in various activities so that we can maintain our physical capabilities as long as possible.
In addition to physical health, our physical surroundings are important too. If you live in a house that’s not conducive to “aging in place,” you may want to consider moving. If it requires continual maintenance and upkeep, and that’s not something you want to spend your time doing, that may be another good reason to make a change. Those kinds of housing issues can become more severe as you get older. We live in a somewhat larger home with a fair amount of upkeep, but fortunately, it’s a single story, so we aren’t in any big hurry to move.
Finances (and Giving)
The Bible says almost nothing about retirement. But it does have a lot to say about money. In this category, the focus is on your overall financial situation and how you manage your finances leading up to and while in retirement. It also has to do with having the right kinds of insurance, putting an estate plan in place, etc.
The Bible doesn’t promise you a wealthy, luxurious retirement. But it does communicate God’s promises to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19) while also addressing the need to provide for yourselves through work (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8) and wise saving for future needs when you may not be able to generate income (Proverbs 6:6-8, 21:20). There’s also the implication that you have a responsibility to wisely manage and invest what has been entrusted to you (Matthew 25:14-30).
As a do-it-yourself investor, I monitor my retirement accounts without excessive tinkering. I’m not a “stock trader,” so it doesn’t take up too much of my time. I may go weeks or months without making any changes, and when I do, they tend to be minor. In my mid-60s, while still working, I began carefully estimating retirement income and expenses. Now in retirement, those estimates have proven reasonably accurate, though I’ve learned that actual spending patterns differ subtly from projections—a reminder that planning provides direction but requires ongoing adjustment and flexibility.
Many people say that the most significant thing on their mind when they retire is money. That’s understandable, but as important as money is (it’s tough to retire without any), you need to view it as a means to an end in retirement, not the end in itself. You could think of the seven other areas in the wheel as the ends and money as one of the primary means of supporting them. Better to identify the end and then try to ensure that your means can support it.
Giving is an integral part of the financial area, but it’s also a spiritual discipline. If you want to be in a position to give generously when you’re retired, you’ll need to make sure you have the resources to do so. Everyone should continue to give something in retirement, although the dynamics may change from what you did when working full-time. I don’t have a specific giving plan for retirement except to continue giving as I have been, while remaining flexible as circumstances change.
And of course, in addition to giving monetarily, we can give through serving (see the “Work” section below).
You’ll probably need a financial budget in retirement, but the most important budgeting exercise you can do is for your most precious resource of all—your time. Your life consists of many important areas, and while money is a means to an end, you need to identify the ends to ensure the means support them.
Work
We were created to work by a working God (Genesis 2:15; John 5:17), so work is an essential part of living and feeling productive as human beings. We’re instructed to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) and to bring honor and glory to God through our work (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Because retirement can mean the end of permanent employment, that loss can leave a void in terms of meaning, purpose, and connection with others. Retirees need to think about what kind of work they want to do in retirement once the euphoria of no longer having to “punch a clock” wears off.
In this context, work is best defined as meaningful and productive activity and involvement that you enjoy and that benefits others, regardless of whether you collect a paycheck. My wife and I serve as Deacons in our church. She coordinates our Women’s Ministry, and I lead our Financial Ministry. Serving in those capacities and others (welcome team, small group ministry, children’s ministry, mercy ministry to the homeless, etc.) takes time and effort. In retirement, we’ve been able to devote more time and energy to these ministries, though I’ve learned that even without a full-time job, I must still intentionally carve out time for church service—retirement doesn’t automatically create margin without discipline. Your church probably has many of the same ministries that you could be a part of.
The good news is that retirement offers the chance to think about work differently. For some, that may mean a new career or starting a small business. For others, it may be part-time work. You may decide to use your talents and skills to work for pay or little or no pay, especially in the context of your local church and other ministries you have an interest in (1 Peter 4:10). The key is to do all you can to be useful and relevant as long as you’re able.
Relationships
This element pertains to family relationships, friends, and colleagues. Family relationships are especially important, especially for you and your spouse, but also with your children and grandchildren. Many retirees decide to move closer to their children and grandchildren for that purpose.
Christian relationships are important too. The Bible encourages Christians to relate to one another in fellowship and community (Hebrews 10:24-25). This happens mainly in the context of the local church. We’re relational creatures, so maintaining strong, loving relationships with others is vitally important (John 15:13; Ephesians 4:2-3, 6:1-3).
But maintaining fulfilling relationships with others can be more challenging in retirement. Being a part of other people’s lives is an important part of the Christian life, and continued involvement in your local church and other ministries can help facilitate that.
Sometimes, after people retire, they don’t interact with others as often as they used to. That can lead to feelings of disconnection, and even to loneliness and despair. That’s why continued involvement in your local church is so important. One area to consider is building relationships with younger people in your church or community who could benefit from the wealth of experience, knowledge, and wisdom that you have to share.
Daily Management
We should always endeavor to make good use of our time (Ephesians 5:15-17). With extra time on your hands, managing your time in retirement is more important than ever. It’s important that you feel some sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, even if it’s small. That means having some plan, perhaps with short and long-term goals and associated to-dos, instead of just “puttering around” all day without any specific goals or ambitions (Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 16:9).
I’m not talking about maintaining a regimented, disciplined schedule, as you probably retired to get away from that. Some may choose to do that, but I’m mainly talking about being somewhat deliberate about how you spend your time. If you don’t, you may find yourself aimlessly drifting through each day, which can lead to many other problems.
Once you decide what you want to do or accomplish in retirement, you need to determine how to achieve that. For example, to publish regularly on this blog, I’ve had to carve out consistent writing time—which, even in retirement, requires intentionality. If I want to serve in a broader capacity in my church, I need to plan for that. If I want to exercise more frequently or engage in more outdoor activities, I have to schedule them accordingly.
Daily management may also mean taking care of the long list of “to-dos” (aka, “honey-dos”) that you’ve been putting off. I know there are lots of things my wife would like for me to do, and they continue to provide structure and purpose to my days in retirement.
Spiritual
In the well-known Psalm 63, David wrote, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (ESV). He goes on to say that he had beheld God’s power and glory and found God’s steadfast love to be better than life itself (Psalm 63:1-4). This captures the essence of the Christian devotional life—a continual seeking of God and His presence.
Retirement (and aging in general) can be a challenging time. But no matter what difficulties come into your life, you’ll be able to handle them better if you maintain this one priority above all else: Earnestly seek after God! As Psalm 91:1 reminds us, those who dwell in God’s presence will reside in the shelter of His almighty power, mercy, and grace. Psalm 46:1 tells us that He will not just be a refuge but also our strength when we’re in trouble.
The spiritual area is mainly focused on the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and study, as well as other devotional reading and prayer. It may also involve ministering to others. The goal is not just to practice these things, but to do so in order to continue growing in your love and devotion to God.
We all need to remain teachable, responsive, humble, and obedient in spirit. This is not that different from how we’re called to live our lives as Christians from the very beginning. Our spiritual life as an older person simply means that we continue to do what we’ve always done, but with a heightened awareness of the challenges that mid- and later life can present to us.
Keeping the Scriptures and our relationship with God preeminent in our lives helps us maintain the right perspective on the vagaries of life’s circumstances (both blessings and hardships). Our goal is to persevere in faith to overcome the obstacles and challenges that get in our way so that we can one day say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7; Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Mental
It’s well known that mental health and acuity become more of an issue as we age. Almost all of us will have challenges with this at some point in our lives. So this area concerns our mental health in the broadest sense. It’s essential to keep your mind active and engaged as you get older. Regular mental activity is as crucial to your emotional and spiritual health as it is for your physical well-being.
You should never stop growing your knowledge through exploration and learning. Christians, in particular, should be diligent about reading, studying, learning, and applying God’s Word and also the beautiful theological and doctrinal truths we find in other books to their lives. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (ESV).
It would be easy to underestimate how quickly you can become complacent about learning, especially since so much of what we take in is “force-fed” by television and social media. You can even get to the place where your only intake is the sermon on Sunday morning.
You have to make a conscious effort to challenge yourself daily in this area. That means deliberately engaging in activities that keep your brain productively active and striving to be a continuous learner. This is closely tied to the “Work” area above. One of the reasons I work on this blog is the intellectual challenges and stimulation it provides—the research, thinking, and writing involved in publishing an article keep my mind engaged. Although the subject matter differs from my previous full-time work, it remains interesting and challenging to me (and hopefully helpful to others).
Think about simple things you can do to keep your mental activity alive: You can read more. You can attend classes (online or in-person). (It may not appear so, but I’ve taken a couple of writing classes on Udemy.) You can take up a creative pursuit, such as painting or writing. If you like crossword puzzles, try Sudoku (my wife has gotten very good at it). Try teaching others, especially younger people. They’ll keep you hoppin’!
The key is to challenge yourself enough to learn and have fun at the same time, but not so much that you get frustrated and quit.
Think and Plan More Broadly
The central message is this: As you think about retirement planning, think more broadly than just finances. No matter what stage of life you’re in, all the areas on the “Wheel of Life” have importance.
Having now lived in retirement for several years, I can testify that this holistic framework remains essential. The eight dimensions continue to require intentional attention and balance. Without deliberate focus on each area, it’s easy to let some dimensions atrophy while overemphasizing others—perhaps obsessing over finances while neglecting relationships, or pursuing leisure while letting physical health decline.
The beauty of the Wheel is that it provides both a planning tool before retirement and an ongoing assessment framework during retirement. I encourage you to periodically evaluate how you’re doing in each area and make adjustments as needed.
When combined with the biblical foundation of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship—understanding your purpose through the Self-Sustaining, Caregiving, and Ministry principles—this Wheel provides practical structure for living out faithful stewardship across all dimensions of retirement life.
As I continue to explore retirement stewardship on this blog, you’ll see articles that address each of these areas in greater depth. My prayer is that you’ll approach retirement planning—and retirement living—with the same holistic, Christ-centered perspective that this Wheel encourages.