At 72, I am often asked when I plan to retire. To be honest, I don’t think about retirement all that much. I think more about the next stage of life and, more importantly, how I want to finish my course.

According to Christianity Today, approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day. As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, millions of people are facing a major transition- one that brings both opportunities and uncertainties.

In a sermon, John Piper once mentioned a couple who retired in their fifties, moved to Florida, and spent their days boating, playing softball, and collecting seashells. Piper called it a tragedy- and rightly so.

Unfortunately, the American Dream has created a very self-centered perspective on retirement. We have come to think of retirement as something we have earned, something we deserve, and a season of life in which we can finally focus on ourselves.

Sadly, many older Christians have adopted that same mindset. They approach retirement asking the wrong questions. How much money will I have to live on? What kind of care will I receive when my health declines? How long will I be able to remain in my present home?

These are not unimportant questions. Planning wisely for the future is good stewardship. But when these questions become the primary focus, they can reveal priorities centered more on self-preservation than on kingdom purpose.

Perhaps there are more important questions that senior saints should be asking: What can I do in this stage of life for the kingdom of God? How can I build a legacy rooted in biblical truth?

Where can I find joy in serving God and others? Where can I invest the time I have left to advance the gospel?

Many people, even Christians, think about what they are retiring from but never seriously consider what they are retiring to. When a person’s identity has been shaped by a career spanning several decades, it can be difficult to adjust to life without that employment. Work has given structure to our days, purpose to our efforts, and often a significant part of our identity. When that suddenly disappears, the question becomes, What now?

Arnie Cole, CEO of Back to the Bible, made this observation about Christian seniors: “Older folks are the wealthiest of all age groups and have the most resources. Yet they are the most likely to be fearful they won’t have enough.”

That fear can easily become the defining characteristic of our later years. We begin counting what we have, calculating what we might need, and worrying about what could go wrong rather than asking how we can faithfully use what God has already entrusted to us.

And then there are the other realities that accompany aging. How long will I remain physically able to do what I am doing now? What happens when my strength begins to diminish? What about the inevitable health concerns that come with growing older?

Brittany Lawson, a wealth advisor and retirement income expert with Thrivent, observed, “After 65, we have this morbidity curve, and the longer we live, the higher the likelihood that we’re going to experience some kind of catastrophic health event.” That reality is as inevitable as it is difficult and reminds us that our time is limited.

Married seniors must face another sobering reality: the possibility of losing a spouse. The odds of both spouses dying at precisely the same time are slim. Eventually, one will probably have to walk through the valley of loss before the other.

Loneliness can become a heavy burden for the one left behind. That is one reason our later years should not simply be about accumulating things or preserving our comfort. They should also be about making memories, deepening relationships, and investing in people—memories that will outlive our working years and relationships that will carry the imprint of our faith.

All of these realities have caused me to think about my own future in three ways.

First, I want to see retirement as a new opportunity for ministry. I don’t want to spend my remaining years simply asking what I can do for myself. I want to ask, What can I still do to serve the cause of Christ? There may be things I can do in the next season of life that I have never had the time or opportunity to do before.

Second, I want to build a legacy of faith for my family and friends. What will I leave behind when I am gone? Not simply possessions, but convictions. Not simply memories, but an example. I want those who know me best to know that I loved Christ, trusted His Word, loved His church, and sought to live faithfully for His glory.

Finally, I want to finish my course well.

Paul wrote near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

That is the retirement plan I want. I don’t want to waste my remaining years worrying about all the things associated with the American Dream. I want to invest the time I have left in things that will matter for eternity. I want to serve Christ, love people, encourage younger generations, strengthen my family, and advance the gospel for as long as God gives me the strength to do so.

I’m not sure how many years I have left. None of us knows. But I do know this: I don’t want to retire from usefulness. Whatever the next stage of life brings, I want to finish my course faithfully so that, when I finally stand before my Lord, I will hear those words every faithful servant longs to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”