Wisdom For The Future

Wisdom for the Future

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

Proverbs 22:3

SAVING MONEY IS A SIGN of wisdom. Hoarding money is not. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs that wise people plan for potential difficulties in the future; foolish people assume that everything will be fine and then find themselves in trouble. The wise husband and wife plan for difficult times. Financially, this involves saving and investing. Of the two, saving is the most fundamental. Many Christian financial advisers suggest that 10 percent of a couple’s income be allotted to savings and investments. You may choose more or less, but you should make the choice deliberately. If you plan to save what is “leftover,” you will likely not save.

If you give 10 percent to the Lord’s work and save 10 percent, that leaves 80 percent to be divided among mortgage payments (or rent), heat, electricity, telephone, groceries, and so forth. The couple who regularly saves a percentage of their income will have not only the reserve funds they need for emergencies, but also the satisfaction that comes from being good stewards. Regular savings ought to be a part of your financial plan.

Lord, as a couple we want to be wise in the way we use our money. Please give us the discipline to be deliberate about saving, investing, and giving. We know all we have is yours, and we want to use it well.

Money