INVESTING

STEADYPLODDING

ONE PROBLEM Allen and Jean wanted to discuss was their inability to save. “We’ve never been able to save consistently,” Jean admitted dejectedly. “We realise this has been a mistake, and we’ve suffered for it. Every time the car broke down or something else went wrong, we ended up going further in debt because we didn’t have savings to pay for these unexpected expenses. What should we do?” Allen added, “And how can we begin to invest to help provide for future needs such as our children’s education and our retirement?”

Unfortunately, like the Hitchcocks most people are not regular savers. According to one source, the average person in our nation is three weeks away from bankruptcy. He or she has little or no money saved, significant monthly credit obligations and a total dependence on next week’s paycheck to keep the budget afloat. SAVING—THE JOSEPH PRINCIPLE The Bible tells us it’s wise to save.

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20, LB). Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty. PROVERBS 21:5, LB Because of their instinct for saving, ants are commended for their wisdom: “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” (Proverbs 30:24, NIV). They put aside and save from the summer’s plenty to meet a future need. Saving is the opposite of being in debt. Saving is making provision for tomorrow, while debt is presumption upon tomorrow.

Another example is Joseph, who saved during the seven years of plenty to ensure that there would be enough food during seven years of famine. I call saving the “Joseph Principle.” Saving means to forego an expenditure today so you will have something to spend in the future. Perhaps this is why most people never save; it requires a denial of something that you want today, and our culture is not a culture of denial.

When we want something, we want it now. HOW TO SAVE When you receive income, the first check you write should be a gift to the Lord and the second check to your savings. The Bible does not teach an amount or percentage to be saved. We recommend establishing a goal of saving at least 10 percent of your income.