The True Source of My Hope

            I got my first Social Security deposit last month. After fifty plus years of paying into the system, I finally reached the age I can receive full benefits and still keep my job without penalty.  I chose not to wait until age 70.  After all, who knows how long the system is going to last.  Some say it will be gone early next decade. I would not want to the be the president who has to announce that Social Security benefits are no more.  So much for reelection, huh?

            Many people in our country are totally dependent on Social Security for their income. They worked jobs that did not have pension plans, or for whatever reason did not make any other arrangements for retirement.

            I am grateful to a man named James from a church in south Louisiana. Back in 1982 I became his pastor, and my wife and I went to lunch with James and his wife after church one Sunday. As we sat in their dining room enjoying a wonderful feast, James told me that the church was opening an account for me with what was then called The Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.  It is now called Guidestone Financial Services, but I am still making contributions to that account today, almost 44 years later. When I do retire that money will be the main source of our income, with Social Security providing a little extra.

            The truth is that I have increased my contributions greatly over the years as I have planned for the future.  I am grateful that James and Evans Creek Baptist Church got me started, and I am also thankful that I have taken care to stay with this.  Looking out for the future is really important.

            But I must tell you this.  My retirement income will never be the source of hope for my life. It will provide for our needs, and will help to keep us from becoming dependent on others. But the source of my hope and my future is the Lord Jesus Christ. I placed my first deposit with Him when I trusted Him for salvation as a nine-year-old boy. And since that day He has been my hope and my future. He can be your hope and future, too. I pray that you will find Him and serve Him.