Ruth 1:1-5

1. Ruth 1:1-5 And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband. Finish Strong or Wrong

2. Finish Strong or Wrong It does not matter how strong we start out, if we finish badly Many have come in strong, no longer with us Others came in struggling, still fighting the good fight This morning as I look out at the congregation… Highlight the most important period of our lives – retirement Will we finish strong or wrong? Finish Strong

3. What does Finishing Well mean to us? Enough savings in the bank? Good health? Bucket List? Taking it easy and enjoying life? All of the above are reasonable expectations. Luke 12:19-20 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong

4. The 3rd Age Many are in retirement Not much time left Psalms 90:10 Days of our years, in them are seventy years, And if, by reason of might, eighty years, Yet is their enlargement labour and vanity, For it hath been cut off hastily, and we fly away. Last chance – vital to use it for important things Learn from experience that life is - Uncertain - Temporary - Limited Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean?

5. 1. Order our Priority With limit time left eg car running on empty Ecclesiastes 5:16 … what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind? Trying to focus on self, enjoying fruits of our labours with token service to Christ? Consider this: If life is riddled with disappointments thus far… How can it turn around when we are older/weaker? How many more vacations can we take? Is our focus on the fruits of our labour? Or are we vitally engaged in Kingdom work? Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean? The Third Age

6. 2. Live Fully for Christ! Are we really living for Christ? Everything belongs to God – even our nest egg 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Do not default on the final lap. Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean? The Third Age • Order our Priority

7. 3. No Better Time than Now Take Stock. See how you have fared. Then plan to see how you can do better. • Are there debts to repay? • Relationships to reconcile? • Friends/relatives to bring the gospel to? So much to do • Will you slow down or give it the final spurt? Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean? The Third Age • Order our Priority • 2. Live Fully for Christ

8. Conclusion Thank God for His providence of Retirement. We have the benefit of lessons we learned. We can be role models/mentors. It can be our best years. We can become spiritual church fathers/mothers 1 John 2:13 I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him who is from the beginning; I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil. I write to you, little youths, because ye have known the Father: Finish Strong Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean? The Third Age • Order our Priority • 2. Live Fully for Christ 3. No better Time than Now

9. Take Home Passage Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened nor the clouds return after the rain: In that day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets… Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Nothing Hidden from God Finish Strong or Wrong What does Finishing Well mean? The Third Age • Order our Priority • 2. Live Fully for Christ 3. No better Time than Now Conclusion