John Wesley wrote, "make as much as you can, save as much as you can, and give as much as you can." Unfortunately, many live by a different motto, "spend as much as you can, save a little, and never give." But saving, like giving, is part of our stewardship of the money the Lord gives us. The question is, why do we save?
Proverbs 21:20 and 6:6-8 answer the question. We are to save for "winter" – when there is no "harvest," and yet we still need to eat. As wise stewards, we are to anticipate and plan to meet our needs—next week, next month, and years ahead. Whether that might be for a new roof, car, or property tax bills.
To save means we do not presume upon God. To save acknowledges our responsibility to be good stewards. It also means standing on our own two feet and not becoming a burden to others or the church.
But not all savings are the same. There is a form of ungodly saving, and that is hoarding. Hoarding is saving without depending on God. To hoard can mean saving for future needs out of fear or saving for future wants out of greed. The parable of the rich fool is a demonstration of hoarding or self-centered "saving." The rich fool gives no thought to giving to others or even selling his excess (see Proverbs 11:24-26).
Scripture states that the fool is the one who says in his heart that there is no God. The rich fool acts as if there is no God. But judgment is coming, and he will not enjoy his savings or the feast he so desires on this earth. He thinks he is securing his future by saving more, but he ends up with no future at all. Our future is in the hands of our heavenly father, not in our savings.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
