Motives can be as important as actions.
The Bible often emphasizes that our answers to the “why” questions are just as important as our answers to the “what” questions. Take giving, for example. Someone could ask you what are you giving? You might answer, “I’m giving x% of my income,” or “I tithe.” Do you think the what question is all that matters? What if we were to ask a follow up question – why are you giving? The person could say, “I’m giving because I’m trying to buy my way into heaven.” The why in this case is what needs to be addressed, not the what.
Last year I was listening to a radio interview on Crown Financial Ministries. During the interview, the young lady talked about how she saved because she was so scared. Scared to have nothing. Scared to be without. She realized that in her fear she was saving in a completely unhealthy way.
Perhaps, today we should each check our motives to see if we are saving for one of the following unhealthy motives.
Spiritually Unhealthy Motives To Save
1. Insecurity
While I promote the use of an emergency fund, I also recognize that an emergency fund is sometimes put in place to soothe our insecurities. Jesus prays that God will give us our daily bread, but the idea of waking up every morning to see what God will provide is petrifying. So we stock pile. We save. We collect. Just so we can feel safe. The reality is that if God can take care of us today in abundance (so we have enough to save), he certainly can provide our needs tomorrow.
A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs 28:25 NIV)
2. Pride and Status
In our society, there is a certain stigma with the rich. We recognize them. Notice them. Honor them. And as a result, there can be a temptation to treat them better than the poor.
In the book of James, we see that in New Testament times people gave special attention to the wealthy.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” (James 2:2-3 NIV)
As a result, sometimes people save more than they need in order that they might be noticed, recognized, or honored. They thrive on the attention that comes from the status of wealth. God has been removed from the center of their lives, and like those who participated at the Tower of Babel, they seek only to make a name for themselves.
3. Greed
Associated with pride is greed. Greed is the love of accumulation without regard for anything or anyone else. Greed is a machine that destroys anything in its way to get what it wants. Some people are the modern day Silas Marner or Scrooge. They save to feed an inward beast called greed.
“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” (Psalm 52:7 NIV)
4. Fear
Fear is insecurity on steroids. Some people fear the idea of not having savings. This is typically because they have experienced some type of traumatic event. Perhaps they grew up in poverty. They may have endured an especially dark time in human history (The Great Depression), and they fear what will happen if they do not save. So they save everything they can because they are petrified of what might happen if they are ever found to be without.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
So what is the right motive to save?
In our society, I think there are a lot of habitual savers. Being a habitual saver is a great way to build your savings. However, we cannot completely turn off our mind when saving. Instead, we should at some point (annually?) take time to ask how much is enough. Most people have no idea when they have enough retirement savings. So they save and save and save. They save even when the calculator tells them the amount is sufficient. Since they’ve always saved, they will simply continue to do so. When savings becomes compulsively habitual, it may be spiritually unhealthy.
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. … “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:17-20 NIV)
Christians should save money for two basic reasons.
1. To avoid becoming a financial burden to the church.
I believe the church has a call and a ministry to this world. That call includes a special focus on the poor. But, the church cannot reach out until those within the church are first provided for. As a result, we save to keep ourselves from being a burden to the church.
2. To actively participate in generous giving.
Doesn’t it seem strange that you would save in order to give? However, until one’s own family is provided for, it is not right to move outwardly. With savings in place, the family has been provided for so you can now actively participate in Christian giving.
Ultimately, it is crucial that every Christian find the right saving balance.
What are the positive reasons you save? Can you think of other unhealthy motives to save? Which reason do you think is the most common?
Photo by xJasonRogersx.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
“An emergency fund is sometimes put in place to soothe our insecurities.” I thank you for your honesty because this is soooo true. I encourage Christians to remember that it is God who give you the power to obtain wealth. I also encourage Christians to place their trust in God and NOT in their money. Money comes and goes however the Word of God stands.
Thanks for your honesty. God bless you in Jesus name.
i just have one question on this very good post; should a christian save and invest cash inorder to move financially ahead while at the same time doing so for the above reasons? I am kinda divided as to whether or not a christian should look for a high net worth
To be able to give extravagantly! What an amazing reminder of why we should save money. I need to re-orient to make this a more primary reason.
Excellent post, brother.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I think you can have both a high net worth and still save to give.
The way I see it, to have a higher net worth, you’ll need to save and invest. And with the higher net worth, you’ll have more to give.
What do you all think?
To be a good steward of your money is Godly.
Point #2 is excellent. In my opinion, a Christian should use his or her money wisely (investing) so that he or she can get in a better position to give and not so he or she can have a couple mansions, a small island and a fleet of cars.
Love the first sentence: “Motives can be as important as actions.” Amen to that.
This is a simple and lovely post. I never really put thought into the idea of saving to not be a burden to the church, it makes so much sense!
thanks for the great reminders. sometimes, we forget about who we serve and ultimately get carried away by money. we should never replace God with anything but his grace.
I really like you second point and I think even non-denominational individuals should engage in this (and I know many that do). If one does become a “burden” to the church may he/she at least work off a portion of their burden through church backed charitable events and even general maintenance?
I just want to thank you for this article. I have really been struggling with my obsession with money, debt repayment and savings. So much so that I failed to remember the God provides all things.
Thanks again. God Bless.
I don’t think insecurity is a bad motive. Yes, we should rely on God as our provider, but that doesn’t mean we just sit back and He does all the work. To me, insecurity as a motivation to save is stewarding your money well. I believe you can be insecure in your financial situation, but still put your trust in God while you make the move to grow. Good points in this post.
Great article! I’m glad that you added the reasons for saving as well.
Darren,
I agree that you can have both a high net worth, save, and give.
Sometimes we give when we have more. Sometimes God calls us to give more with the little we have. What we have is sometimes not as important as why we have it.
@kt
I would be concerned if someone were ‘saving and investing’ for those reasons. However, it is impossible for us to look at someone with a high net worth and judged their motives.
The Bible does (contrary to popular teachings) ask us to evaluate each others actions (for the reason of accountability). However, one thing we are never asked to judge it motives.
@The Best Money Blog
I do see where you’re coming from. I was thinking about Israel when some would go out and collect extra manna and God was not please because it showed they were afraid that God would not take care of them. Their trust was in manna not the God of Manna. I guess I defined insecurity as the feeling that God cannot provide and believing that you must go out and secure your own future. Thanks for the feedback.
I absolutely needed this. Saving responsibly is good. Saving compulsively can be just as unhealthy as not saving at all. I’m definitely asking myself “why?”
Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children…”. There is also a special call in the Bible for a person to look after his own family’s needs and not be a burden. I work hard and save based on prudent advice and learning so I will be able to leave an inheritance for my grandchildren.
“My parents are professionals but, we were always on a tight budget. When I had my first job; I indulged in what little luxuries my salary could afford. I’m not the breadwinner but I gave openly to my siblings. My aunt labeled me as “too kind” and told me to learn to say no and start saving. My husband was adamant about it but I could feel his disagreeing. You may find it weird but I feel happy when I help them. I haven’t saved a penny and when I was out of job, I feel like they don’t know me anymore. One even blamed me for not saving at all. I was reminded of the verse “The rich man has many friends but the poor man has no one.” There was also a line that said “even his family will forsake him”.
Due to this experience I had bitter feelings towards my siblings. Now that I found myself a better job, I made “saving” a priority and I rarely give anything. “Fear is insecurity on steroids. “ That really is true. I don’t want to be in the same inconvenient spot I was before. I fear that they would again look down on me because I don’t have money.
Such a relief to have read this article. “The reality is that if God can take care of us today in abundance (so we have enough to save), he certainly can provide our needs tomorrow” -will be my guide from now on.
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Yes, we need to save so that we will not carry too much burden in financial matters that will lead to our truthful giving to the Church, There are many people that can not go to the Church because they need to work but if they have stable budget and there would be no need for them to have overtime during weekends that is the days for our God. Days to worship Him in the congregation…