I have heard different viewpoints regarding this issue. Some people say, "Is it Christ-like to retire without any financial plan and expect the government or family to cover all our expenses? Of course not!" While I have heard others say statements like, "Any money we save for ourselves later is money that is not going to the poor who need it now."
My wife and I have an 'emergency fund' set aside for, well... emergencies. For example, if my 11 year old Honda loses its transmission (a likely scenario), we will have some money to replace it. However, some people would say that to have an 'emergency fund' is completely against the teachings of Christ. These folks would say, "there are emergencies all over the world... the poor, the suffereing, those with dirty water, etc. They could use that money far more than you." It is kind of hard to argue with words like that... So, do we never save money? Is it wrong to have a financial reserve of any kind?
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I tend to agree in principle. Although it is more prudent to plan for retirement when we live in a society that no longer values contributions to society that don't generate profit. In Jesus's day they considered the elderly as beneficial as those working the fields - therefore they took care of them in old age.
ReplyDeleteI think you should give away more each year than you save. I think the ratio should be pretty high. I think if you're doing that, you're ok.
We had to make some tough decisions in that area. We've decided to give less now and work hard and getting rid of our debt, which will allow us to give more in the long run.
We try to keep about 2-3 months worth of expenses saved and limit it to that. Luckily we don't make that much, so it's not too much of a temptation.
Good thoughts; thanks for the post.
I read that book and it had some good points, but on that topic-I think Chan is way off. Job and Joseph were wealthy! Solomon too! and all the Godly kings. I realize that was OT but the only change I see from old to new is the LOVE of money or greed.
ReplyDeleteLuke 12:21 says that they store up riches but are not rich towards God. The sin seems to be the greed, not the saving. If we took this passage completely literally- in verse 27 Jesus talks about how the flowers do absolutely nothing and God makes them beautiful and takes care of them. So are we to be lazy and just let God do all the work? Of course not! The Bible says he that does not work does not eat! SO this part of the passage is about worrying too much about the future. IMHO
If you obsess about saving or storing up riches to be rich someday, then perhaps that is where greed comes in, but saving so that in your old age you can use your time and resources to serve the lord rather than be a greeter at WalMart-then you are being wise IMO. Time seems to be a resource so few people can give these days. The elderly and retired are able to make up for some of that, but they can't if they are too busy working.
I have been considering doing a blog on welfare and how it is our job as Christians to take care of the needy, not the IRS's job to collect charity from us and divvy it out as they see fit, and how we need to be able to take care of ourselves and our family but if we as Christians don't start being more charitable, that is exactly what will happen and then we will be paying such high taxes to help the needy that we will be stripped of one of the things God wants us to do. So charity is definitely important and part of being a Christian, but saving for the future is also biblical:
Proverbs 10:5 & 13:18