7 Sins That May Hinder God's Plan for You in Your RetirementSample

7. Your BUCKET LIST hinders God’s Plan for Your Retirement

Last, we come to what so many people look forward to in their retirement: the BUCKET LIST.

You may have worked hard your entire life, delaying those special trips or activities, and putting each as an entry on your BUCKET LIST of things to do during retirement.

Well, what’s the problem with that? Is a BUCKET LIST wrong? Can’t you finally go and do those things that you have put off until now?

Yes and no.

Yes, you can definitely enjoy the fruits of your labor and get busy with your BUCKET LIST.

But, no, you can’t just switch from working at a job to working on your BUCKET LIST.

Let’s step back to get some perspective. Ignoring the past, and just looking at anyone’s BUCKET LIST (including yours), it looks just like this: a list of pleasures to be engaged in. Or, even more blatantly, a BUCKET LIST is plain and simply a selfish wish list, kind of like a child’s Christmas wish list.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a wish list. But what if that wish list becomes the focus of one’s life? That’s a bit over the top, right?

So the BUCKET LIST must be tackled in moderation. Spending some weeks or maybe even months as a mental health break from work to take that vacation or engage in that hobby is perfectly fine.

It is when the BUCKET LIST takes over your life, and sets the agenda for the years ahead, that it becomes the sin of SELFISHNESS. After all, how can you find out and get busy with God’s Plan for your life if you’re a full-time BUCKET LIST worker? This is where we need help – check this verse:

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. … You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.– Ephesians 4:17,22-24

Two words help us apply this verse: DISCIPLINE and ALIGNMENT.

First, DISCIPLINE yourself to live as one belonging to Christ Jesus, not to live as everyone else may do in the world. Put on your new self and see your BUCKET LIST in a new light, leaving room for God’s plan to be found out and worked on as a higher priority. Maybe you’ll actually get some things checked off on your BUCKET LIST, or maybe not. But, if you’re busy building treasure in heaven by working on God’s Plan for your retirement life, then maybe that BUCKET LIST activity isn’t quite as important as you thought….

Secondly, ALIGNMENT is also a good way forward for you. Why not align the desires that fed into your BUCKET LIST with God’s plan? For example, if international travel has been on your list, maybe God has a plan for your good works to take place somewhere overseas. Can you imagine - checking off your BUCKET LIST while getting busy with God’s plan for your retired life?

Now that’s a win-win, isn’t it?

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In closing, I hope this reading plan has been helpful to you – not to condemn or make you feel bad, but to encourage you to dig deep into what God’s Plan for your retirement may be and to watch out for these seven sins as “red flags” to help keep you on track.

May you be blessed as you build treasure in heaven in your golden years, and may God greet you in heaven with these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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There are many resources available online to help define your retirement. Check the God & Work website for a list of retirement resources at www.GodandWork.org/youversion. In addition to the reading plans mentioned in this study, search for “Roland Heersink” in the YouVersion app to find other plans by this author.