"If I retire comfortably, there won't be enough left to give to God's work"
How it sounds in your head: The church says we should sacrifice everything for missions. If I plan for a comfortable retirement, am I being selfish? Maybe God wants me to give it all away and trust Him with nothing saved. Comfortable retirement feels like greedy Christianity.
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."
-- 2 Corinthians 9:8Religious spirit: false choice between personal provision and kingdom giving, making God's abundance seem limited.
Missionaries tell stories of giving everything away. Sermons praise radical sacrifice. Planning for your own comfort while people are lost feels selfish and unspiritual.
Abraham was 'very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold' while simultaneously being called God's friend and father of faith. His wealth and his relationship with God weren't opposites—the BARAK blessing made him wealthy SO HE COULD bless nations.
I REFUSE the lie that God's abundance forces a choice between my provision and His work. IT IS WRITTEN: 'God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you may have ALL sufficiency in ALL things AND abundance for every good work.' The BARAK blessing makes me ABUNDANTLY prosperous, not scarcity-minded. Abraham was incredibly wealthy AND incredibly generous—that's covenant. IT IS WRITTEN: 'The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity.' I declare MORE than enough for comfortable retirement AND MORE than enough to fund every kingdom assignment. My Father's supply has no either/or.
Your Father is running toward you with the abundance that allows BOTH rest for you AND overflow for His work. He's not asking you to choose—He's the God of 'exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think.'