Would i rather follow my budget or follow the leading of the Holy Spirit?
This is one of the biggest financial questions that every christian has to answer. I am all about budgetting, planning, getting out of debt, pretty spreadsheets that forecast spending and savings, but obedience to God is way greater than sacrifices to my savings fund.
The following scriptures reveal the need to have wisdom to manage what we have, and a plan to start saving for a need in the future. However, there are benefits and dangers for saving money that can befall a Christian:
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. (Proverbs 21:20(NIV)
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:2NIV)
“Go to the ant, you sluggard: consider its ways and be wise … It labors hard all summer, gathering food for the winter” (Proverbs 6:6–8, NLT).
Benefits of savings money as a Christian
Everyone has reasons for saving money, it could be for emergency fund, retirement, college funds, vacation and the list goes on, because life happens every day. As Christians these benefits should motivate you to save more.
- You are able to meet your family obligations without getting into debt.
- You get the ability to support other people in need.
- You are able to support Gods work in the local church and missions abroad.
- You have the ability to demonstrate your obedience to God through your finances.
Dangers of Savings
Before jumping into what I would call dangers of saving money, let me say that money can reveal a lot about me – what I do with my money speak out about what is important in my life. Jesus gave a comparable parable in Luke 12:16-21 (NIV)
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ ”Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ”This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
You are on dangerous route if:
- Savings becomes your god
- You build your confidence and security in your savings fund
- You are hoarding (a good word for greed)
- Are in the habit of just collecting stuff without a purpose
- Your saving is motivated by worry
God wants us to be wise and responsible stewards in using the financial resources he gives us, always conscious of the fact that we are not owners but care takers of these resources.
Related readings
- Ten Ways to Save Money
- Money Wisdom Bible Scriptures on Money
- Who really brings the financial increase?
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You are right about being good savers being encouraged in scritpture. If I allow money to replace God as my first priority, I am in a bad place. Money is a means to an end, not the end. Good post.