I talk a lot about the importance of having an emergency fund and how it is a necessary ingredient to a sound financial plan. But, I thought we should step back and ask the necessary question, “Would Jesus have an emergency fund?”
In trying to answer this question, the first verse that came to mind was Proverbs 27:12 (NLT) ”A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.“
The whole purpose of having an emergency fund is to be prepared for when the inevitable “trials of life” hit. Christians are not exempt these trials and struggles that seem to pop up unexpectedly.
This reminds me of the parable of the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. From what I can tell, the foolish virgins brought enough oil for their lamps had the bridegroom showed up on time. Well the bridegroom was probably playing football with some friends and showed up a little late. (And he didn’t even call to say he was going to be late!!)
What separated the foolish from the wise was their preparation for the unexpected. The virgins forever known as foolish, didn’t plan for the unexpected by bringing extra oil. Those who were labeled wise brought extra oil in preparation for the unexpected.
Jesus knew the balance of what part He played and what He should rely on God to do. We have a part to play, but it is foolish of us to think higher of ourselves than we ought and think that we have a more important role than we actually do. Ultimately God is the one who supplies all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).
But Jesus also said “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6.
I get convicted by this verse when I have a temptation to think that if I can save enough money, I can insulate myself from any and all problems; thus not needing God. I have to fight against the tendency to trust in myself and depend on my abilities rather than God. The truth is that we can never make enough smart financial decisions or do enough things right that we will not need Him. He designed it that way. We are imperfect beings who are dependent on God.
So, as far as Jesus’ emergency fund goes, if He were walking the earth today, I think He would have one, but He would still trust God for His daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
There are a bunch more verses that would point to suggest yes or no to the question, so I would love to hear what your take on Jesus’ emergency fund is in the comments below…
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Jesus clearly had an emergency fund. Where do you think he got the extra fishes and loaves?
Another good verse on this is Proverbs 21:20
http://www.ebible.com/bible/Proverbs%2021%3A20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.
I wonder about this sometimes. But I completely agree with you about the 2nd point, that Jesus wouldn’t see the emergency fund as something that could protect him from all catastrophes. And that he taught against having faith in money or investments.
It depends on who you think Jesus is. If you think he is God then he would not need an emergency fund because he would know what was going to happen and could change anything to his liking. If he was only human then he would have an emergency fund out of wisdom, planning for the unknown.
Excellent post, and I do believe you’re right. I think Jesus would have had an emergency fund, but he wouldn’t put his trust in it. Jesus wouldn’t want to go into debt in the event of a financial emergency, and he would also know that nobody is immune to financial problems.
On the other hand, he wouldn’t put his faith in the emergency fund. I think Jesus’ view would be that it’s prudent to be prepared, but ultimately God is in control and you need to rely on Him to sustain you.
As a Christian, I trust that God will not send me more trials than I can bear, and that he will provide for me. That does NOT absolve me of responsibility of taking care of myself and my family. He has provided the means for me to accumulate an emergency fund, and as you quote “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.“
Great comments everyone!!
@Michael
I was wondering where they came from!!
Maybe Jesus could just ask his Dad for money if he needed it?
Liked your post, added you to my bloglog.
Ernesto,
@debtdieter:
ROFL. That is just tooo funny.
Just a few thoughts…
In Matthew, Christ is clearly talking to “Pharisees” who put their trust in “things” and not in God. Our faith, whether we are wealthy or poor, should always be in Christ. That being said, some of the great blessings that we have been given, as human beings, are the abilities to work, plan, and prepare.
(Remember when Christ sent the Disciples to get the colt, so that he could ride it into Jerusalem. To me, this is clear evidence that “He had a plan” – He had resources, in place, to be used at a time of need.)
NCN
Would Jesus really need one? I mean, he is Jesus after all. The rest of us, sure…but Jesus?
Great article & a topic I don’t see mentioned very often. I think that moderation and perspective are the key. It’s wise to save & be prepared, but keep in mind that God is still in charge of ALL things & ALL situations. No amount of money in the bank should take away your reliance on Him. It’s really about balance & faith. If you have $50K in savings and die tomorrow, do you think God is more likely to say “Awesome- glad you were prepared for any emergency” or “Lot of good that money does you know, too bad you didn’t give it to missions or give it to church or use it while you were on earth to do my will.”
At some level it’s about personal conviction and what you feel is right for you to save, without hording or squandering “investment opportunities” in the kingdom. The Randy Alcorn book- God, Possessions & Eternity has some great info on things like this.
No way Jesus would have an emergency fund. Even though he was fully man, he was also fully God. So he knew what the future held and has the the entire universe at His disposal.
But us? We have no clue what tomorrow brings. So in our human-ness , we save and store for the unexpected, which is also wise, given our lack of “future-knowledge”.
Look at Matthew 6:26:
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
My interpretation? If your faith is in the Lord, he will provide for you regardless of whether you have an emergency fund or not.
@Amanda D
Good points – you reminded me of an interview where Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life author) said that he believes it is a sin to DIE rich. His point was, what good does millions of dollars in the bank do when you die? This was refreshing to see given that he has made quite a few millions I am sure, but his plan is to use what God has entrusted him with to benefit others rather than hoarding up treasures that he can’t take with him.
I think some people are missing the point. Obviously, being God, Jesus didn’t *need* an emergency fund. He didn’t need to do a lot of things that He did while on earth. I think that Jesus would have had an emergency fund to model to us that being prepared is a good thing. Cool post idea, by the way
What about poor people who foresee danger but lack the financial resources to take precautions? Are they prudent, simpleton, or something else?
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.
———————————————
So if a poor person is not able to save, he’s foolish???
New here – just stumbled across this site.
I ask myself this question all of the time. I just can’t build up a huge (over $5000) savings when my brothers are in Honduras and India, needing every extra dollar they can get to bring water, food, and the message of Jesus to orphans and widows. If I encountered disaster and ran out of money tomorrow, I’d have to move my family in with our extended family. When they run out, people die. Then again, the two leftover aluminum windows in my house with cracked panes (from the cold) really ought to be replaced, requiring 50% of my current savings. But, hey, I’ll still have 50% left, and every scientist knows that half-lives can go on indefinitely, right?
I just found this site. I like this site!!
It’s kind of silly to debate whether Jesus would have an emergency fund or not. The simple fact is he didn’t. Money wasn’t invented yesterday. It existed in Jesus’ time. And yet nowhere in Scripture does it mention Jesus’ emergency fund. So would he have one? No. He didn’t have one when he was here the first time; I don’t think he would have one today.
Of course Jesus had an emergency fund! The bible even records him as using it when the tax man came calling; though I’d think, for the rest of us, stuffing your money inside a fish is even sillier than under your mattress. *grin*
Seriously, yeah, he’s God, but he’s also the Second Adam; fully man as well as God. In addition to dying for our sins, he came to set an example, and as such did some things that aren’t really necessary for the God nature (eat, sleep, pay taxes . . .) BTW, while on Earth, the Son relied not on his own power, but on the same Holy Spirit available to us. In that, He Himself modeled relying not on your own strength (even though His was truly sufficient) but on His Spirit.
But we know they had funds laid up; otherwise Iscariot wouldn’t have had anything to steal, would he?
What about a retirement fund? That seems to be a bigger issue than emergency funds. How far does being a wise steward go? This is an ongoing debate between my wife and I. What is a Christian perspective on retirement and saving for retirement?
@Crossn81
You know, it is a tough question to answer, that I don’t think there is a clear cut answer for. Like previously mentioned, I think the key is where you place your trust. Obviously, if your trust is in anything other than God, you are in trouble. But, on the other hand, Proverbs is loaded with scriptures about the wisdom of preparation and the foolishness of not being prepared.
Another angle is the grace factor that we have as part of the new covenant – so I don’t know, those are just my thoughts on it. But, the conclusion that I came to was that I should save for retirement. I am going to do my best to keep from trusting in it – which reminds me of another proverb about riches make themselves wings and fly away… anyway enough rambling for now…
Nice post – stimulating thoughts for my wife and I.
Great posts. I am glad I came across this site. My brother and I recently had a discussion very similar to this.
After reading through the New Testament I came up with the following conclusion:
Apparently Jesus had a tresurer by the name of Judas. John 13:29 shows Judas holding the bag. So I would think that shows He would have had an emergency fund. I doubt He had a treasurer for Himself but for the disciples.
In the Good News Bible, John Chapter 13:29 says this “Since Judas was in charge of the money bag, some of the disciples thought that Jesus had told him to go and buy what they needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.”
That, in my opinion; shows that Judas was the treasurer for the disciples. It shows that they had a money bag and it was used to help the poor or to use for festivals. Having a money bag shows, in my opinion anyway, that they saved money.
My King James version of the same chapter and verse says this: “For some of them thought, because “Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.”
@Duke
That is a nice piece of insight – thanks for sharing
Reminds me of a quote I heard once… “Luck favors the prepared.”
This also reminds me of a conversation I had with a Christian couple about paying rent ahead of time. Was it seen as not trusting God if they paid their rent 6 months ahead and didn’t live on the week-to-week seat of their pants rollercoaster where they were waiting for God to send them fish with coins, baskets with food etc? I think God wants our full attention and trust and will speak to us through every day-to-day events. I agree with the comments that it is where you put your trust. I also think that it’s often overlooked that God gives us the ability to create wealth (often through using our talents with hard work)and this is one part of a good emergency fund.
@Ryan
Wasn’t Judas treasurer?
I think the real question is “Would Jesus advise us to have emergency funds?” Of course Jesus himself wouldn’t actually need one, and a lot of people have pointed it out.
However, and I think Bob did a good job of explaining this, God clearly shows us throughout the Bible that we should be prepared and prudent. That’s not the same as trusting completely in our wealth – it’s just wisdom in action.
Jesus did speak of saving up for the future. It was in Mt. 6 where he spoke of “laying up treasures.” But it wasn’t for retirement. It was his urging to lay up treasures in heaven, as I’m sure you recall. He was always calling people to live in a framework of thinking that sees everything in the big picture of what God is ushering in—the age to come. The paradoxical thing is that “laying up treasure in heaven” requires not hoarding but giving what one has away for the good of others. What we lose for Jesus’ sake we gain back both in intimacy with him and in honor and reward in heaven.
As to the bigger picture of Scripture, we do have teaching about saving and being prepared for lean times that may come later. It’s primarily found in the wisdom literature of books like Proverbs—which is what you might call “common sense living.” Yet Jesus calls us to a discipleship that is what you could call “uncommon sense”–living with a different understanding of reality than just what makes sense from a purely human perspective.
I think that there is a tension that we find ourselves in between taking care of ourselves and truly being generous lovers of our fellow man. It is one thing to be irresponsible and thoughtless about the future, which is a potential mistake we could make. But when people do this, it is usually the result of them holding the value of instant gratification. In other words, they aren’t saving up because they’re spending it all now. There is no virtue in that kind of frivolity.
But Jesus takes us down another path. He leads us in a sort of reckless abandon towards Kingdom life at any expense. And Kingdom life is a life of sacrificial giving and investing in the people and the world around us. He invites us to break free of living in constant fear of not having enough (ironic for us anyway, since we are the world’s richest nation), and to truly trust his promise that God will take care of us if we are living for him and welcoming his reign (Mt. 6 again).
But understand that most of us won’t take him that seriously. Even most “Bible scholars” will civilize Jesus’ teaching to make it fit our sense of economics. We’re just too conditioned to take care of number one. And often our logic gets in the way of allowing us to experience the real power and touch of God on our lives.
Here are some statements from Jesus that relate . . .
Matt 16:25 (NIV) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matt 19:21 (NIV) Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Luke 14:33 (NIV) In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Mark 12:43 (NIV) Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.” (Nothing here about—“How foolish! She must not be thinking about her retirement!”)
Luke 6:20 (NIV) Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 9:57 (NIV) As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Mark 10:29 (NIV) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matt 6:31 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I just stumbled onto this site. Great site! I appreciate all of the comments as it leads to greater insight and growth. In particular, what Chris has contributed led me to share in the conversation. When we think in terms of “What would Jesus do?” we tend to think of what actions and choices he would make. We must be carful with this approach. Allow me to elaborate.
Consider what motivated Jesus. His thoughts lead to his actions. As human beings, we are always “being in the experience of” something…virtuous or, non-virtuous. Situations, circumstances and our own thoughts cause us to respond or “act out”. This is where we are driven by the “treasures of our hearts”. In him there was no sin, shortfall, impurity, malice or imperfection of any kind. In his “being human”, he was living from a place that we cannot really relate to. His thoughts were connected to the Father to the degree that he could say, “I and the Father are one” “if you have seen me then you have seen the Father” “it is not me that speaks to you but he that is in me”. What was he really meaning when he said such things? Is it possible that he had no “personal” agenda of his own? Was his only concern the agenda or “will of his Father”? If we maintain any other desires to experience things outside of what Jesus was focused on, then “what Jesus would do”, will not align with our doing (activity) because the motivations are different.
Early in his life he made it clear to his parents that he was to be about his Fathers business. He came into this world very differently than we did. According to the Bible, he was born as a result of the Holy Spirit coming upon a virgin. It is written that “He committed no sin, and, no deceit was found in his mouth.” No sin from his birth until his death.
What Jesus was able to do from the beginning is sometimes viewed as only possible because he was God in the “flesh”. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1)
This being the case, his purpose was also clear. “His planning” was a result of his purpose which as a restoration of all things unto the Father. Planning beyond this was not necessary as he was connected to and understood the source of all things. However, he was still tempted and had to overcome temptation as we all do and can. And, his “state of being” was perfect in all ways. He was completely “immersed and linked” to the source of all things. The mind of God was also his mind. That’s hard to imagine huh? Talk about a true connection, he was “clear” as to who he was.
Jesus was the demonstration for all mankind as to what is possible when we shed all of the worldly concerns and live as if the kingdom of God IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
That said, it is clear how “we” have been instructed to live in this world. We are in a state of being that is different from Jesus. Our “truth” is not his. In our “indoctrination into the world, we have accepted lies that keep us in bondage. We allow for the “unexpected” and surprises because of the difference in our “oneness with the Father”. If any man could one day attain a state of being that was in alignment with the Father as Jesus was, he would be able to do many things as Jesus did. This however, is not possible because of our fallen-sinful state but…Jesus made it clear that all things are possible with God. When I say fallen and sinful, I am meaning that we have allowed different belief’s to exist in us that represent lack and shortfalls. But, these exist because of the way we “think” things must happen. God has made every effort to tell us that “his ways are not our ways and to lean not to our own understanding”, but habit and behavior equal’s strongholds that keep us from what is really possible for us.
The question is, “What do we really have faith for?” What degree do we believe and rely on the source of all that is? This is where we are challenged to find the balance of alignment with God, through the Jesus demonstration of a perfected relationship with him. Unless we are willing to commit to all that Jesus has said in his many parables and words, “we” must plan. If we do not posses the understanding necessary to live as Jesus did, then we live within the understanding that is available to us. Yes, we can and want to grow but, who we are from 15 years old to 30 years of age is different due to awareness and understanding. This come from “seeking”, “finding”, “knocking” and doors opening revealing the truth of God through Jesus Christ. We live in limitation for various reasons but, we can live differently by having faith and allowing “no room for doubt”. This is what Jesus says can move a mountain and ANYONE believing and doubting not can do so. This is easier said than done. Seen any mountains moved by anyone lately. Knowing the truth is different from believing and living the truth in the moment.
As a disciple, it’s always a bad idea to think that we shouldn’t try to model ourselves after Jesus. After all, he called us to be disciples, not just believers, and the central focus of a disciple’s life is to become like his teacher–not just to know what he knows, but do as he does. Add to that the truth that God has make it clear that his number one priority in our lives is to conform us to the image of his Son.
Great thoughts. I appreciate your post, it’s really got me thinking.
In response to Chris above, I think we have to careful about the idea of “conforming to the image of His Son” being the same as doing everything Jesus did while on Earth. If you take that literal stance, then none of us should marry or have permanent homes. We should walk around preaching continually.
But, as Jesus told the parable about the man who fills his barns and then dies the next day, we should also not save out of fear / desire to be completely self reliant. If you’re saving because you know God has given you more than enough for your daily bread, and you feel that responsibility to be prudent and save, go for it. If you’re saving because you want to feel pride in your accomplishment and feel like your security rests in your nest egg rather than in God’s provision, then you’re foolish.
Jesus would have just enough money at just the right time. His savings would look like an emergency fund to everyone besides himself.
I don’t necessarily believe Jesus would have an emergency fund for himself, but I believe he would recommend it to others. I don’t believe his purpose on Earth included funding a rainy day account, because he knew what the future held for him. But, even without the specific Bible verses above, I know that Jesus would want us to take care of our own needs so we have the freedom to also look after others. If we are constantly worrying about our own financial stability, then there’s not much time/money/energy left over to help others.
Prov. 22:3 & 27:12 – “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” (NLT)
In the NASB “danger” is translated “evil”. Which seems more accurate to the Greek. “Takes precautions” seems a stretch from the more literal translation “hides”. Thus, this passage refers more to fleeing temptation and sin than storing up wealth.
3The (C)prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
This is not to say that other passages don’t encourage us to have an emergency fund, but these Proverbs don’t seem to apply.
I have thought about this a lot and came across this discussion researching for a budget class I am teaching to women. My conviction has been that there are MANY scriptures exhorting believers to give sacrificially, often, immediately and continuously to those who we see in need. There are a SCANT few scriptures that refer to saving in any way, most of which caution against it. The only scriptures that encourage saving specifically (as opposed to simply “planning”) refer to a KNOWN time of need, such as ants preparing for winter or Joseph storing food for the 7 years of Egyptian famine. These types of savings could be compared to our retirement funds–a KNOWN time of need. My husband is a teacher and unpaid during the summer, so we save enough money to live during that KNOWN time of need.
Socking away money for UNKNOWN need, is specifically what scripture seems to caution us about. This kind of savings is fear based and causes us to trust our provision rather than God’s. Instead of saving money for an emergency that may or may not ever come, pick your head up and LOOK AROUND. There are people everywhere that God has commanded us to give to. GIVE NOW. If, in fact, you do come to a time of need, God will provide for you. He has promised to do so. Moreover, if more Christians made a discipline of giving, when in need, we could actually be provided for by those we’ve helped. It is this kind of interdependence rather than independence by which the Christian community should be defined.
Additionally, I would be curious to know if others of you felt that the parable of the virgins is about financial preparedness or spiritual preparation for Christ’s return. I felt this was out of context, but I am not a “formal” Bible scholar.
These are all wonderful discussions. I definitely believe in giving to those in need – even though my husband and I struggle to keep our basic needs covered – and struggle to maintain even a small emergency fund. He and I seem to disagree about ‘who’ to help – everyone around us seems to be in need – especially close family members – but they do not always live by Godly principles and are in need because of having squandered their money or lost their jobs because of their poor work ethics and seem to make the same poor choices over and over. I totally understand giving and helping within the Christian community – am I being judgmental?
Rebecca: There is a difference between helping those in need and enabling those who have willingly squandered what God has given them. Look at the wicked servant in the parable of the talents: The master not only reprimanded him, but gave his talent to the servant who had earned 5 talents. Helping someone who is temporarily down, who is living a God-centered life but has encountered a financial hurdle, or someone who is clearly destitute is both charitable and a judgment call; helping someone who blows their money gambling, paying for 600 channels instead of paying the light bill, or gets fired because they refuse to work is NOT charity: It is a failure to hold that person accountable for their actions. That’s enabling, and it’s not Christ-like in the slightest.
“Tough love” is not popular among the Christian church, in the same way that “discipline” is not a popular subject among “seeker-sensitive” churches: It doesn’t tickle the ears or make people feel all fuzzy inside. However, as both a recipient and a distributor of charity and tough love, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard” seems to apply in the situations you describe. Many take “Judge not, lest ye be judged” to a foolish level of “don’t ever judge anyone”- yet how are we exercising Spirit-filled, Bible-commanded discernment by blindly supporting people in their heroin addiction or laziness and gluttony?
As to an “emergency fund”- Jesus didn’t need one, true. As Ms. Ryder pointed out, there is a Biblical mandate to prepare for “known” times of need. That’s called “budgeting”. You KNOW the car will need tires this year, since you bought 40K-mile tires last year, and have put 35K on them so far. So you put away $50 a paycheck in expectation of buying new tires. That’s a budget line item. However, when the transmission blows out or a deer rams your car (note I didn’t say “you hit a deer”- the deer hit YOU, which makes a difference in the insurance world), you weren’t expecting it, and your monthly budget is now trashed because you didn’t PLAN for an emergency. An “Emergency Fund” is just that: A plan for an emergency. If emergencies didn’t happen, there would be no Emergency Rooms in hospitals. Yet they are there- in EVERY hospital. Why? Because “rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.”
Both the Bible and the Army taught me that failure to plan is a guaranteed plan to fail. Take this to its logical conclusion: If an emergency fund is unnecessary, then why have car insurance? Life insurance, sure. You’re biblically guaranteed to die. (“It is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment.”) However, the Bible doesn’t mention cars, so why pay for the “what if” of insuring them? Because God gave you the wisdom to KNOW that at some point, you are pretty likely to need car insurance. Same thing with emergency planning.
If we live in California, we buy earthquake insurance. If we work in a war-ridden area, our life insurance policies should NOT have an “Act of War” exclusion. As we live with a finite knowledge of events, but a definite knowledge that while we don’t control everything, we will have “emergencies”, the failure to steadily, slowly make preparations (ala Noah) for the emergency is a plan to spend a lot of time and energy…treading water. It’s not a lack of faith by any means: It’s the same reason we study for tests, read the Word, put antifreeze in our cars: The test WILL come. The spiritual battle WILL be fought. The heatwave WILL hit. And the emergency WILL show up. Sooner or later. Our not knowing the exact timing does not excuse us from using what God has given us to prepare for it, little by little. An emergency fund (in the spirit of the ant’s storing up food for winter) merely means the difference between an emergency being an explosive bank account catastrophe and a minor budgetary speedbump.
Here, here! Very well said! And, just to add another bit of wisdom, my mother always says, “a fool and his money are soon parted.” Save for that rainy day! It may flood whether you have flood insurance or not! Also, STOP what you’re doing and pay your bills with the “debt snowball” (Dave Ramsey), and remember, “when you find yourself in a financial hole — STOP digging!”
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