Today is Day #190 of 2024; we only have 176 left to go. Before you think I’ve shifted into a hyper-philosophical mindset after a long holiday weekend, hear me out…
The internet has turned us all into searchers; our lives are now shaped by summarizing. Come up with a few search terms, and you’ll have the latest thinking on any narrow category within one-click access on the first results page.
Freedom is an intriguing door to open on the World Wide Web. Turn that handle, and you’ll be presented with over 31 million opportunities to click-into the concept behind the fireworks.
July 4th is America’s day to celebrate political freedom; taxfoundation.org offers their help in determining our ever-shifting Tax Freedom Day. All of the days prior, you labor to cover taxes; every day after is yours to manage. How much of your year is spent satisfying their non-negotiable demands?
If you live in Alaska, you were free on March 25th. Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Montana all toast their release the first week of April. In California, it was April 20th. For New Yorkers (the worst), bondage prevails until May 3rd. Slavery is still practiced in some states…
The government loves to have people at work: workers pay taxes, while non-workers get checks. High-employment is one metric used by governments to measure their success; at every level, they claim control over that measure of productive participation. While the political class is measuring the size of the workforce, others measure the satisfaction levels of the working stiffs. The findings are intriguing: more people today report dissatisfaction than delight with their work assignment.
Enter, stage right: the FIRE movement. Financial Independence, Retire Early is the backlash against the culture’s conundrum. Working in a job they dislike – and doing it for months each year for governments they have no compulsion to underwrite – there’s a movement underway to opt-out of the rat-race before the rest of the rodents know what happened. Extreme frugality – motivated by profound self-interest – is drawing First Half adults into Second Half financial strategies. Boomers are choosing between Social Security at 62 (the threshold for monthly checks at the lowest pay-out) and waiting for the max-calculation at 70; Millennials on FIRE are using Index Funds instead of counting on FICA (Social Security) to pull their workaday ripcord and sell their briefcases on Craigslist…
What if the real “Freedom Day” is the day when you “retire” from this life, and transfer into your Eternal reality?
The best lifetime counsel for obtaining financial freedom was offered by the most reliable advisor, ever. Here’s Jesus’ input:
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:9-12)
Our culture’s viewpoint: your money is yours, for you. Building reserves to allow a life of leisure and fund consumption is the grand plan. God’s viewpoint: it’s not your money; it’s God’s money. The smart plan is to use everything at your disposal to populate heaven with people.
What’s at stake? In your Eternal future, “true riches,” and “property of your own” are yours to secure.
Freedom Day: it’s out there, for you. Does your plan align with His Plan?
Bob Shank
The old adage is true. You can’t take it with you. But according to Jesus, you can send it on ahead.
Great POV.