He was an old man. I was just a kid. I was going to become a pastor at the first church I would serve. The year was 1984. (Yeah, yeah, I hear you---those of you saying, "wow, that means you are an old man now!" I get it!)

Anyway, this old man was "coaching me" on a variety of issues that I would be facing as a pastor. It was a new role for me. He advised me regarding preaching, planning, leadership development, building consensus, attending seminary, the importance of visitation, and the list could go on and on. Before we finished, he advised me about retirement.

Now keep in mind, I was 22 years old. I remember thinking "Retirement? You have to be kidding me! I'm only 22 years old! I'm not retiring any time soon!" I wasn't that far from wrong. I mean think about it, just 4 years before assuming the position of pastor; I had just graduated from High School. What kid, fresh out of high school, or fresh out of college of for that matter, thinks about retirement.

His advice was simple, "Start putting back for your retirement right now. Do not ignore this. Do it now!" He was emphatic. I thought it just the meaningless rambling of an old man, but he was an old man that I loved and he was a great professor. So I took him at his word and started at age 22 saving for retirement.

I probably didn't do it as enthusiastically as he would have advised. I probably didn't do like I should have, but I did it. I read just this week that the average retirement savings account balance for Americans aged 50-64 is just over $26,300. You do not have to be a financial planner to look at that number and realize that it is simply not enough for anyone to retire on. I'm glad to say that because of the advice of that one old professor who was passionate about his counsel on a topic that I was less than enthusiastic about, I'm in a much better position. I started saving for retirement at age 22.

I still have a long way to go before I retire, but here is the point of this devotional. I planned ahead for an eventuality and I made an investment to get me there. I'm still making the investment and working toward that goal. You are wise to plan ahead, don't you think?

Jesus thought so. In Luke 14, in a discussion on discipleship, Jesus gives this counsel regarding planning for the future:

Don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'

31 "Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

The point? Plan. Invest. Be wise.

Marriage is an investment. Are you planning for it to last? Are you "putting away" an investment in your marriage for the future?

This past Sunday was the due date for the deposit for the Western Kentucky Marriage Retreat that will be held on February 8-9, 2013.

Yes, you missed the due date for the deposit. But we still want you to attend. You can still turn in your deposit today! Call the church office, and get your name on the list! I'm urgent about this because it is so important that you WISELY do the things today that will bring you a pay-off and a benefit for years to come.

I can't thank that old professor who told a boy of 22 to start thinking about his retirement. And listen, you should listen to the sound counsel of "this old man" who is telling you that it is worth the investment for you to make a commitment and an investment to your marriage. The pay-off will come at a later time, but take the first step----whatever it takes, be there at the marriage retreat.

Pray for your marriage today.

Pray for the marriages in our church.

Pray specifically for a marriage that God lays on your heart, and invite that couple to join you and your spouse at the Western Kentucky Marriage Retreat.

I'm an old man, but I've learned a thing or two and you would be wise to listen to me ...