This article is part of the Biblically Informed Retirement for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. Before delving into this topic, I would like to begin by drawing on theologian Herman Bavinck’s discussion of the wonderful creation of man, which I have paraphrased from parts of Chapter 12 (The Origin, Essence, and Purpose of Man) in The … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS) series. It was originally published in 2025 but updated in 2026. In the previous article, we discussed all the ways the US Government, via the IRS, incentivizes charitable contributions. In this article, we’ll discuss how to develop a giving strategy that won’t … Read more
I don’t often write about these kinds of topics. But if you are near or in retirement, as I am, you know you are in the final third or quarter of your life. If you trust Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection for your salvation, you already have a ticket to heaven; it just hasn’t been … Read more
This article is part of the Biblically-Informed Framework for Retirement Stewardship (BIFRS). (In fact, it describes the origin of it.) When most people think about retirement planning, they picture calculators, spreadsheets, and savings goals. But for Christians, retirement is more than a financial target—it’s a new and hopeful season of life calling for wisdom, faith, … Read more
I had a little fun with the title because this is a “heavy” subject, and I wanted to lighten things up a little. And while we’re at it, what in the world is Moses wearing; it looks like a costume. (At least there’s not a big “M” on his chest.) Okay, back to our serious … Read more
If you read much about stewardship and retirement planning, you’ll hear many thoughts expressed in the context of ”life stages” and our lifestyle choices in each of them. Here’s a graphic I used recently in a stewardship seminar for the young single adults in my church: This is a logical way to think about financial … Read more
If you’re young, the most critical retirement risk you face right now is that you may be hoping to retire someday, but you haven’t given much thought to retirement planning. Or maybe you’re counting on Social Security and Medicare for your financial security in retirement; after all, you’re paying taxes, right? In fact, not saving … Read more
As retirees, we rarely discuss time unless it’s to inquire about the current hour. When was the last time you were at a dinner party and someone asked you, ”Hey, <insert your name here>, how much time do you think you have left?” Polite people don’t ask such things. However, as we get older, the … Read more
I recently re-read Tim Challies’ article titled ”Rule #5: Ponder the Brevity of Life (8 Rules for Growing in Godliness), in which he wrote the following: Aware of death’s inevitability, we must discipline ourselves to ponder just how short our lives will be. Though our hearts are set on immortality, we are heading toward certain … Read more
