"I chose a low-paying career serving God. I'll never have a comfortable retirement because of it."
How it sounds in your head: You chose ministry, nonprofit work, teaching—serving God instead of chasing money. It was the right choice, but you'll pay for it in your old age. Your friends in corporate America will retire comfortably while you scrape by.
"So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.'"
-- Mark 10:29-30Source: Religious lie that serving God means accepting poverty, that sacrifice for the Kingdom requires financial suffering in old age.
Your paycheck is a fraction of what you'd make in the private sector. Retirement benefits are minimal. You made the noble choice but the financial consequences are real and undeniable.
Left his fishing business—his entire livelihood and retirement plan—to follow Jesus with no salary, no benefits, no 401k. Jesus promised him hundredfold return in this life plus eternal reward—he didn't retire poor; he died having affected the entire world.
I REFUSE the lie that serving God means a poverty-stricken retirement. IT IS WRITTEN that those who leave anything for Jesus receive a HUNDREDFOLD now in this time. I didn't sacrifice my financial future; I INVESTED it in the Kingdom with supernatural returns. IT IS WRITTEN that I am blessed under the BARAK covenant, and God honors those who honor Him with ABUNDANCE. Peter left his fishing business and changed the world. My service doesn't lead to old-age poverty; it leads to old-age OVERFLOW because God multiplies what's surrendered to Him.
Your Father isn't sad that you chose ministry over money. He's PROUD, and He's not letting you retire broke as a consequence. He's the God who gave Solomon wealth because he asked for WISDOM instead—your priorities position you for provision that makes your corporate friends jealous.