Proverbs 21:20
Be sensible and store up precious treasures-- don't waste them like a fool.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We all know people whose money “burns a hole in their pocket.” If they have a dollar, they will find something to buy with it. Early on, I became a tightwad. Some probably consider me “cheap”… I prefer to think I am conscientious and thrifty. Or maybe I have gone to one too many estate sales and seen a lifetime of “treasures” be sold in a matter of hours for pennies on the dollar. But I truly believe that God expects us to be good stewards of our money and possessions.
God wants us to be smart and honest… to work hard for a fair wage, and then pay our bills with our earnings. God doesn’t want us to live beyond our means… to max out credit cards and live on borrowed money – or the kindness and sympathy of others. To do this makes us a slave to money and possessions – and potentially to other people. And it takes our focus in the wrong direction.
God wants us to be realistic and responsible. He wants us to “save for a rainy day,” and to pay our own way. We can’t do this if we are wasteful and mis-manage our assets. A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet these days. And through no fault of their own, some are finding that there isn’t enough “month in the money.” Still others seem to be “fiddling while Rome burns”… continuing to live and spend like they once did, even though their job is in jeopardy and they can’t pay the mortgage.
Regardless of your age or your income, I encourage you to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you prepare a budget. With His guidance, determine exactly how much you need to save… and what you can afford to spend. Do this with the intangible things, too… like your time, your talents, and your abilities – and even your relationships. Ask God where you need to spend your resources… and where to conserve them.
At the end of the day, remember that everything belongs to God. He has placed us in charge of certain things, but we need to be very careful how we handle them. Are you being a good steward of what God has placed in your care? Or are you foolishly spending everything you have… and wasting precious treasures in the process?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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