Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ
When I began working at FedEx in 1988, my manager told me about the 401K (retirement savings plan) that FedEx offered and how I could contribute to it.
He told me that FedEx would put $1000 in my account for each year I put at least $1000 in the account. Also, whatever money I put into the account would not be taxed until I withdrew it, and he explained that after I retired my income would be less so I would pay less taxes on the money at that time.
Somehow this plan bothered me a little, although I didn't recognize why, and I chose not to contribute to my 401K initially.
But then at some point we were encouraged to go to a "Retirement seminar". The man leading the seminar made a strong point that we were throwing away $1000 a year if we didn't contribute at least that much to our 401K since FedEx would also put that much in the account.
I don't remember praying about this, and it seemed wise to my thinking to have an additional $1000 each year for my retirement. So I started contributing to my 401K.
However, a few years later, I wasn't sure I should have done this and stopped contributing.
During that time one of the women I worked with made a comment about trying to have at least $500,000 in her 401K by the time she retired. I recall being shocked, for I didn't have nearly that much. I remember considering whether to start contributing again at that time.
Over the 23-1/2 years I worked at FedEx I started contributing to my 401K 2 or 3 times and then stopped. I was never really settled by God that this is what I should do. When I took early retirement, I had less than $100,000 in my 401K.
After I retired, one of my neighbors said to me that she would like to retire but she didn't know what the stock market may do that would affect her retirement savings.
I realized it would impact mine as well since at least part of the 401K money was in investments, and this caused some fear if I heard of the stock market going down.
When I was around age 62, I started doing home improvement projects so began withdrawing $5,000-$15,000 from the account each year to pay for the projects. Taking such small amounts didn't impact my taxes very much, so I don't recall being concerned about the taxes I was required to pay on the money I withdrew. But had I wanted to withdraw larger amounts and my taxes had increased greatly, I probably would have been bothered and tried to not withdraw the money I wanted.
In looking back now, it is so obvious to me that the entire setup of 401K retirement savings plans is based on greed. Not having to pay as much taxes while still working. Getting the company "match" money.
In addition, this plan opens doors to fears.
I think the Holy Spirit was trying to keep me out of this trap. But by not getting firmly established by God in what to do and following what seemed wise to man, I kept getting back into it because of greed and fear of not having "enough" money when I retired.
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Recently a woman in our church group entered into deception as she failed to honestly tell how much money she had available to purchase a house, wanting to save her retirement savings money from large amounts of taxes.
She also felt she would need to pay tithes on the money she withdrew (which she didn't pay when she contributed to the 40lK), an additional incentive to not withdraw that money.
Seeing the sin this woman entered into by the greed inherent in these plans helped me see what a terrible trap they are, leading to great temptations to sin.
Regarding tithes, I tried to make sure any tithes and offerings I gave were at least 10% (usually more) of my salary before any taxes or other deductions were taken, grateful to God for my entire salary.
But I recall hearing some men I worked with while in graduate school, who said they were Christians, talking about needing to find out how much tax would be withheld from their salaries so they would know how much to tithe. I was puzzled by what they said and asked what they meant, explaining that I simply take my salary amount before anything is deducted. One of them said to me, "You don't want to pay tithes on money you have to give to the government, do you?" They obviously thought I was foolish.
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Comments by Joan Boney:
I was born again on August 5, 1975. That night God said to me: "Joan ... You know those mistakes you've been making all these years? Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
I was very shocked!
That night I was completely changed by God, given a "new heart & a new Spirit."
I had been staying at the home of my best friend and her husband while recovering from a gall bladder operation.
As I was leaving Donna's house to return to work, I said, "Oh, by the way Donna, I don't think I was born again until last night."
She shouted ... "Joanie ... what did you just say? Come back here!"
(It never occurred to me anyone would care.)
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A few nights later, I was asleep in the night. I was transported into heaven. I was with God and Christ and the Holy Spirit. (no images just spiritual) At that time, I was "merged into the body of Jesus", made one with The Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
A few nights later, the exact same thing happened again!
I was on fire for things of God. All I wanted to do, after these two experiences was to go to church, hear about God, and read the Bible.
No one had to coerce me to give at church.
I would go to church planning to give $20. When the offering plate came to me, I would give $40 or $50.
I was so grateful to be born again! It is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me!
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