You had the career.

You raised the family.

You even built a comfortable retirement nest egg.

Looking back on your life, there’s a lot to be proud of…in many ways, the “American Dream” has become your life story.

And yet, you can’t shake this feeling that there is more for you to do and a deeper purpose to uncover.

Your hunch is correct! If you have breath in your lungs, it means that God has more for you to accomplish on earth. So, what does the Bible say about retirement, and how can we align our golden years with God’s design?

The discussion around biblical retirement is increasingly important, as:

Roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each day in the US, and, for the first time in American history, there will be more Americans over age 60 than under 18.
By 2050, the global population of adults over age 65 is expected to double to 1.6 billion.
Life expectancy is longer, making the retirement years a valuable portion of life! For example, the life expectancy for someone born in 1967 is 91. That leaves nearly three decades after the “retirement age” of 62!
(Statistics from Reimagining Retirement.)

The Tension

As we get older, we become comfortable, and it’s easy to become content.

Don’t get me wrong–contentment is a great place to be. As 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” However, we cannot let contentment turn into complacency.

I have experienced this tension firsthand. I was so eager to “retire” in my late forties so I’d never have to work another day in my life. I replaced my entire pastoral income and benefits with passive income from real estate investing. For a while, I was happy to sit on the couch, go to the golf course, and never speak from a stage again. Then, two things happened.

God told me, “Billy, if you don’t get off the couch, you aren’t going to live much longer.
My wife Becky told me, “Billy, if you don’t get off the couch, I’m going to kill you.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit sounds a lot like your wife!

In all seriousness, God was making the message pretty clear–He still had a purpose and a plan for my life, and I could either embrace or reject it. As pastor and author Mark Batterson writes, “We start dying the day we stop dreaming. And ironically, we start living the day we discover a dream worth dying for.”

Some of you reading need a similar wake up call. God still has a plan for your life, and it’s time to get back in the game.

Biblical “Retirement”

The first thing to note about biblical retirement is that work is God’s blessing to humanity, not a curse to escape. Whereas there is no definition of retirement in the Bible, Numbers 8:23-26 mentions Levites shifting their work responsibilities once they reached the age of 50:

The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”

So, when the Levites reached 50, they didn’t “leave the office” and go on a forever vacation. Instead, they remained in a place of honor and mentorship, letting their work change as they did.

We must weigh the biblical picture of old age with our cultural narrative. In our American culture, older people are often pushed to the margins and regarded as outdated. Yet, throughout the Bible we see people such as:

Moses, who began his leadership at 80
Caleb, who entered the Promised Land at 85 ready for battle
The 84-year-old prophetess, Anna, who rejoiced at the coming of Jesus
Jacob, who poured out wisdom and blessed his family on his deathbed

Consider:

As followers of Jesus, we become more like Christ as we age: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)
The aging process is a visual representation of wisdom: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.” (Proverbs 16:31, NLT)
We have the joy of leaving a legacy: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children . . .” (Proverbs 13:22 NKJV)

Now, we don’t have to work at our 9-5 jobs forever. Financial freedom, whether it comes from retirement, investments, or both, provides you with more time to do what you love and more resources to bless others. However, what we do with our freedom makes all the difference. No matter how old you are, you never retire from serving others.

So, what’s next?

God has more for you than “your four and no more.” In other words, your legacy is meant to extend beyond your family.

Now, don’t get me wrong–grandkids are the greatest gift. I have four grandsons that are my world, and spending time with them is one of my greatest joys. Everything I do, I do with them and my children in mind.

However, I want the legacy I leave to go beyond finances and good memories, though those things are important. I want them to say that PaPaw was obedient to the Lord every day of his life, and he never stopped dreaming with God.

Here’s the challenge of our retirement years: we have to move from a personal legacy to a Kingdom legacy. That will require sacrifice, risk, and time. However, whatever it takes away from you, God will return a hundredfold!

Dream a New Dream

We must use our energy and God’s grace to continue partnering with Him until the day He takes us home. Becky and I take time to pray and dream together every morning. Some days, we are dog tired and it takes more effort to dream. However, we know it’s important.

As Acts 2:17 says, “Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”

So, dig deep. Pray about it. Get a picture on the inside of what the next phase of your life will look like, and take the next faith-filled step. Don’t limit God by limiting yourself. Remember, He created you–not the other way around.

3 Steps to Dream a New Dream

1. Break a Spirit of Disappointment

Nothing gets us out of God’s purposes for our lives quicker than disappointment. And if we live long enough, we are definitely going to experience our fair share of them!

Perhaps:

You experienced a loss, whether professionally or personally, that makes you want to give up.
You don’t think your family or other people respect you.
You made a financial mistake and think it’s better to play it safe.

Disappointment is a part of life, but how we respond makes all the difference. As Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”

You have to push past the disappointment and move toward the dream at all costs. When you do, your family and future generations will eat the fruit of your dream for years to come!

Pray: God, thank you for the hope I have in you. In the mighty name of Jesus, I ask you to break off a spirit of disappointment. Highlight any memories that are holding me back, and give me the strength to let go and trust you. Amen.

2. Create a List & Touch Your Dream

A great exercise to stir your imagination is to create a list of dreams. I encourage you to start with 10 and try to work your way to 25. Do this with a spouse, close friend, or family member. Invite the Holy Spirit into the process, and write down everything you still want to do with your life.

Here are some tips:

– Think in categories, such as travel, serving, family, entrepreneurship, finance, and creative.

– Channel your younger self–what dreams did you have as a child, teenager, or young adult that you put to rest? Does God want to breathe life on any of them?

Once you have your list, go touch your dream. Here’s what I mean by that–take action to connect the vision you see in your mind’s eye with a tangible experience.

One of the best things you can do is move in the direction you believe God is leading you to go. You can’t change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction. Touching your dream means taking the next step in the direction of your dream. It often takes the shape of experiencing something you have never experienced before. From there, you will have a better idea of what it takes to turn your dream to reality!

3. Meet with Other Go-getters

Dan Pena, a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur, famously said, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” This applies to every stage of life! The key to fulfilling your new dream isn’t a checklist or disciplined routine (though those things can be of some value). The wisest thing you can do is surround yourself with other go-getters and dreamers who are passionately following God. Faith is contagious.

At WealthBuilders, we’ve created several opportunities for you to gather with like minded believers who are eager to start businesses, invest in real estate, launch ministries, and, most importantly, continually dream with God.

Check out our events page to learn more. If you want to start or scale your real estate portfolio, our Real Estate Workshop is happening in Denver, Colorado, or via livestream April 25-27th. This is an excellent space to meet with other go-getters! For those who want more intensive training and community, our WealthBuilders Real Estate Coaching Program offers a year of personalized coaching, an in-person QuickStart with other clients, prayer, and so much more. Click here to learn more.

Remember, God has great things for you in your future–not just your past. Biblical retirement looks like continually dreaming, serving others, and living with purpose every day of your life.