“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you.’” (Luke 12:19,20)

I am in the process of planning for retirement. My particular situation is a bit precarious. Because of a nearly intolerable and badly deteriorating work environment that has been poisoned by a clique of toxic bosses, I’m leaving at fifty-five with thirty years service. I will get a pension, though it will be severely cut due to my age. So the plan must include major projects that need done around the homestead and an emergency fund established before the big day. All the experts I’ve read assure me success is doubtful and failure inevitable. I may have to continue to work a few more years, but somewhere else. That is another layer of the plan being considered.

We take our plans for retirement quite seriously, do we not? And well we should. But a friend of mine points out, “Isn’t it something how much planning and preparation we put into our retirement, but how little planning and preparation we put into our eternity.” Bang! That’s the sound of the nail being hit on the head. How much of our focus is on the here and now and getting stuff stored up for then and when - yet we’re but pilgrims briefly passing by with forever waiting up ahead. For most, the things of the earth matter, the things of eternity, not so much.

It is wise and it is prudent to properly plan for the future. But, how much more so to properly plan for eternity. The Bible says there are those “who lay up treasure for [themselves] and [are] not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21) That is the foolish one. The Bible also says, “Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:31) That is the wise one. One ends up with nothing, the other with all.

Where are you today? Pursuing nothing or pursuing all? “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)