Preparing for Retirement: A Faith-Based Approach to Long-Term Planning
January 30, 2026
What should a Christian do about retirement? After all, throughout the entire Bible, there is only one reference to that idea. It appears in the Old Testament book of Numbers (8:23-26), where we read of the Lord telling Moses that Levitical priests are to retire at age 50. Notably, they could “assist their brothers in [their work], but they are not to do the work.”
Two takeaways. First, since you are probably not a Levitical priest, retirement — at least the life-of-leisure type of retirement depicted in culture — is not a goal promoted in Scripture. And second, the only example of retirement in the Bible was not about a complete end of work. The priests could still assist others in their work.
The realities of retirement
It is both intuitive and clear from Scripture that we have a responsibility to take care of our family. In 1 Timothy 5:8, we read, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
While the Bible does not teach us to pursue retirement, most people will, in fact, eventually stop their full-time paid work. One lesson that can be learned from today’s retirees is that your paid work may end sooner than you expect. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 40 percent of today’s retirees left the paid workforce earlier than planned. Many did so due to a hardship, such as health problems or a change at their employer.
If you are to provide for your family after your paid employment ends, that means you will need some other source of income. Social Security will likely be one source, but it probably will not be enough. A workplace retirement account, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan, or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), could be another meaningful source of income in your later years.
Plan ahead. Planning is affirmed in Scripture. For example, Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
Planning for later life involves praying and thinking about when you are likely to leave your full-time paid job. Be conservative about this. For example, if you believe you will step away from full-time work at age 70, build a retirement plan around age 68.
How much annual income are you likely to need at that point? How much will Social Security provide? How much of a gap will that leave you with between Social Security and the amount you believe you will need? Use a (simple or more detailed) online calculator to estimate how much you should invest in a retirement plan in order to fill the gap.
Importantly, consider what you will do in your later years. Many retirees struggle with issues around identity and purpose. An essential part of planning is to pray about how you could best be used by God in your later years. That could be about pouring into the lives of grandkids, getting involved in a specific ministry, and more.
Planning for retirement is not a one-and-done type of exercise. Revisit your financial plan annually and regularly pray about God’s assignment for you in later life.
Ready to take the next step? As you prayerfully plan your future, consider opening an IRA through Christian Community Credit Union to help build a long‑term, tax‑advantaged retirement strategy that aligns with your values and supports missions and ministry work. Visit our IRA Service Center, explore Traditional and Roth options, and start planning with purpose. Your future can honor God and strengthen your legacy.
Matt Bell is the author of Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management. He speaks at churches and conferences throughout the country and writes the MattAboutMoney blog.
This article should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. You may wish to consult a tax or financial advisor about your individual financial situation.
Check out the frequently asked questions below.
Q: How much of good stewardship is about finding good deals?
A: That’s definitely part of it. There are deals to be found on lots of things you buy. However, there’s more to it than that. As Christians, it’s important to consider how the people involved in producing the goods and services you buy are treated.
Q: How can I tell how well a company’s workers are treated?
A: Check whether products are fair trade certified. And look at a company’s website to see if they have a section that addresses this.
Q: How much are environmental factors part of ethical consumption?
A: The first job God assigned was to care for His creation, so taking environmental concerns into consideration is important. Here, too, in order to be fair trade certified, businesses need to adhere to certain business practices that minimize environmental impact.
Q: What other steps can I take to be a good steward as I buy products I need or want?
A: The consumer culture emphasizes frequent buying, which requires people to discard items frequently as well. Buying fewer, higher-quality items that last longer will be better overall stewardship.
