Decision Making & Saving

In Jeff’s sermon last Sunday he talked briefly about making decisions in a season that effect us negatively down the road.  He said, “Be careful,” about today’s decisions that seem to serve our needs at the moment. 

I think the context of the story in Ruth had a lot of financial implications.  One of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot, with our economy the way it is, is that I hope people will make better financial decisions going forward because of this season we’ve been through with the economy and the things we’ve seen happen to people.  We can’t depend on the economy, and we can’t even DEPEND on good financial decisions we make.  We need to depend on God for our provision.  But, we are given a bunch of financial counsel in the Bible, and we are encouraged to make wise decisions, prayerfully. 

One of the decisions most people make every month is to live on everything they make, and sometimes above what they make (going into debt).  This isn’t a sermon, so I’m not going to exegete scripture about this.  I just want to share some thoughts (that’s what a blog is for, right?) based on biblical wisdom and what financial planners would say that isn’t in contradiction with scripture. 

We should be living on less than we make.  One, if we are living on it all, there is nothing, or just little leftover scraps to contribute to the Lord’s work.  We are supposed to give Him the first and the best.  Do we really want to be giving him little leftovers?  Two, we should be saving.  This is not to skirt our dependence on the Lord, because even our savings can’t be our final security.  And God might end up asking us to use our savings for His causes.  We are supposed to have something available to help others who are struggling, which savings is perfect for.  Savings can  help us in our own times of struggle.  The biggest thing I’m thinking of is if we lose a job.    

If we lose our job, what could happen?  If we have little or no savings, what could we stand to loose?  What could be at stake?  This next question is where Jeff’s sermon struck me.  What kind of decisions are we likely to make in the midst of having no job and no savings?  I know so many people who took a job out of need, because they had little or no savings to tide them over while they looked for a job they really wanted, and they wake up 10, 20, 30 years later, still in that same job that they didn’t want to take, didn’t intend on staying in, and they wonder, “How did I end up here?” 

So, if you don’t already, start saving.  You may need it for you.  If not, maybe the Lord will ask you to use it for someone else, or for His kingdom.  Maybe both will happen as it becomes a new habit for you to save.  That has sure been my experience.