Today we're going to start with the biblical basis for saving. Proverbs 6:6-8 says "go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." In other words, save from today's surplus for future needs. For example, if you know you'll need a new car in three years, you should start saving for it now. If you have children who want to go to college, that's an expense to be saved for. In short, one part of saving is seeing a need in the future and planning for it.
However, some needs are unforeseen: a medical bill, unemployment, an accident, etc. As such, everyone will also want to create a general savings fund for these types of emergencies which can't be predicted but are bound to occur as part of life. The Bible recommends saving in this circumstance in Proverbs 21:20 when it states, "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
Yet in order to be a good steward, we must not hoard the resources God entrusts to us. As discussed above, we should save for known future expenditures as well as set aside some money "for a rainy day". But when we start to save for the sake of saving and begin to trust in our riches to keep us safe, this is hoarding, and it is unbiblical.
There is a fine line between being a good steward who saves in accordance with true needs and a hoarder who trusts in his savings to deliver him from all kinds of hardship. The difference is attitude. If you are truly saving for a need, then you are most likely being good steward. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will guide you to give away money you have been saving to provide for an even greater need for someone else. In this case, you are obligated (and should be overjoyed that the Lord is using you) to follow God's direction as His steward. He will provide for you in another manner as long as you are following Him.
On the other hand, if your trust has been placed in wealth, your perspective must be altered. Instead of riches, trust God for your provision because "wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 11:4). Do not allow money to be your security, "but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). In short, trust the Lord, not in your wealth (savings). Oliver Wendell Holmes summarized the correct relationship between trusting God and savings when he said, "put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust".
In conclusion, I couldn't end a column on saving without mentioning the type of saving that really matters. Yes, finances are important, and we should use them as good and faithful stewards to accomplish the tasks the Lord has for each of us. But true saving, eternal saving, is our higher calling. We must constantly follow Christ in our finances and every other part of our lives and live by Matthew's advice in chapter 6 and verses 19 and 20: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
What a great post... I'm sure there are hundreds of other verses you might have included, especially from proverbs:
"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
A man's riches may ransom his life,
but a poor man hears no threat" 13:7-8
"Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." 13:11
"He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." 28:27
Posted by: Skott | January 15, 2006 at 11:14 AM