Faith & Finance - Finding an Uncommon Retirement with Jeff Haanen
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." - Colossians 3:23
It’s easy to assume this verse applies mainly to our working years, urging us to give our best on the job. But notice—it doesn’t come with an expiration date. Today, Jeff Haanen joins us to explore a different kind of retirement.
Jeff Haanen is an entrepreneur and writer who builds companies and serves leaders committed to healing the world through their work. He is the author of An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God’s Purpose for the Next Season of Life and Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World.
Rediscovering Purpose in Retirement
What if retirement wasn't the end of something, but the beginning of something far greater?
With 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring every day—and people living longer than ever before—a growing number of older adults are asking the question, “What am I called to now?”
Culturally, retirement has been framed as a “never-ending vacation.” From jingles like “Wake up and live in Sun City,” to today’s media, the message is clear: retire, relax, and indulge. But the reality is different. Many retirees feel adrift, watching screens and fixing things around the house, not flourishing.
A Biblical Alternative: Eldership, Not Escape
The Bible doesn't speak extensively on retirement, but it does offer a framework. In Numbers, older Levites transitioned their tabernacle responsibilities to the younger men. This isn’t “quitting”; it’s wise delegation and reorientation.
There’s a three-part vision in light of this:
- Lay down past work identities.
- Embrace a season of rest, reflection, and renewal.
- Re-engage as elders—servants, mentors, leaders.
The cultural idea that “elderly” equals obsolete. In biblical tradition, “elder” is a position of nobility, wisdom, and honor—those who teach, guide, and bless at the city gates.
A Path Forward: Rest and Renewal
We encourage retirees to start with rest, not for rest’s sake, but to re-center and listen for God’s leading. Just as Leviticus 25 calls for rest in agricultural rhythms, so too should we practice rest in life’s transitions.
It’s recommended to initially take 3–12 months for rest