Sunday, November 25, 2012
pm
The Christian and Money
Savings and Investing
In our last lesson we dealt with the subject of debt.
In our lesson today, we want to look at the other side – savings
and investing. Is it
scriptural to invest? Should
we save? What about
retirement? What about insurance? Are such endeavors showing a lack of
trust in God? Let us begin
examining what the Bible says about savings and investing and answer
some of these questions.
a.
We are living in a
nation where there is not much saving going on.
Our governments in general are engaged in wasteful spending,
accumulating debt, and NO accumulation to deal with emergencies and
needs. And individuals are
not much better.
b.
WE might not actually
think about this, as it seems obvious that we ought to save, but as
Christians there are things to keep in mind, including some of the
principles we have discussed.
c.
That we ought to save is
revealed in the following texts:
Prov. 21:20, “There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of
the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.”
Prov. 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be
wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies
in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from
your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the
hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And
your need like an armed man.”
Notice how preparations are made for winter time.
Gen. 41:25-57 – When Joseph gave advice to Pharaoh about interpreting
his dreams, he recommended saving for 7 years to compensate for the lean
years.
d.
Matt. 25:26-27, The
parable of talents. As the
master rebukes the one talent man, notice what he says, “You
wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and
gather where I have not scattered seed.
So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at
my coming I would have received back my own with interest.”
I present this verse last in this section because it gives a good
perspective of savings.
There are things better than savings (like the servant using his
resources to make a profit), but saving is always better than laziness
and wastefulness. The POINT:
There are principles to consider as we discuss savings.
e.
When we consider some of
the things we are to do – such as giving, being able to help others
(Eph. 4:28), 1 Cor. 16:1-2 which specifically commanded the brethren to
take up a collection and save it, etc., we find implied how saving is
acceptable and even a good thing.
f.
Furthermore, the
numerous passage we discussed dealing with the dangers and foolishness
of debt would imply that we take measures to ensure that we prevent
such. The answer is not
simply existing day to day (though if that is all you can afford it is
fine) but taking measures to prevent debt – which means saving for
emergencies, planned activities and to a degree the future.
g.
Also, saving can prevent
stress, distractions, it can prevent problems with others (because you
don’t have to borrow), frustrations, etc.
It can actually better enable you to serve God.
Suppose a brother has a (legitimate) financial need.
Are you able to help him?
If you have prepared for that by saving, you are ready.
h.
Why even bring this up?
It should be obvious that saving is a good thing, BUT we must NOT
forget the numerous principles we have discussed that would include the
way we save money.
i.
There are some who
contend that saving, especially investing and for retirement
demonstrates a lack of faith in God or trust in material riches.
It is because of this that I present this lesson.
As we have seen already, there are passages that strongly imply
there CAN be virtue in saving.
BUT, it can also be abused and done for wrong motives.
ii.
There are some who hoard or save out of paranoia.
Their motives are worldly driven.
I’m not talking about “saving for a rainy day” or make some
preparations for a disaster, but there are those who live as if the
disaster is eminent and they are consumed with saving for it.
Others love their stuff and can’t get enough so they hoard.
In recent times we have seen numerous stories about hoarding and
the problems it causes.
iii.
We need to ask, “WHY am I saving?” The point to be
made is that we can take savings overboard.
Those who love money are an example of this.
Those who, when they see a need are unwilling to let go of their
resources. Those who amass
huge bank accounts but are stingy toward the Lord.
Those who are covetous or greedy
and love their money (1 Tim. 6:10)
Remember Luke 12:13-21 where someone came to Jesus and asked Him to
rebuke his brother to share his inheritance.
Instead Jesus told the parable of the rich fool.
He was abundantly blessed and began to save up for his future so
that he could “eat, drink and be merry.”
The problem is that he forgot about God!
That night, his soul was required of him.
iv.
The reason we ought to save some is so that we can be in control of our
lives (in a
good way). We want to be
able to do as much as possible for God and His people and for all (Gal.
6:10). We want to be able to
help. We don’t want to be an
undue burden on others and take away from legitimate needs (cf. 1 Tim.
5:16).
v.
Are we laying up for ourselves treasure in heaven?
Matt. 6:19-21 reminds us that our treasure needs to be in heaven.
When it comes to saving, the point is there needs to be balance
in our lives – not too much or too little.
So WHERE do we draw that line?
That is something YOU have to decide for yourself.
But we must NEVER let our possessions possess us!
IF you were to lose everything in this life, how would you
respond?
vi.
In dealing with this I still consider Proverbs 30:8-9,
“Give
me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be
poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”
a.
Associated with savings
are questions about retirement accounts and investments.
Is investing actually a form of gambling? Does it show trust in
the riches of this world over God?
b.
Again, the answer
depends up our motives. For
many in this world, such things are driven by purely materialistic
motives. They love stuff and
if investing helps them accumulate more things and power, they will
pursue it over all things.
Some will gamble with high risk “Investments” to gain a quick and huge
profit.
c.
Done responsibly, investments would be a subcategory of savings.
In Matt. 25:26-27 we again are reminded of the wicked servant
should have put the money in the bank so that he received interest.
That is based upon investment.
Furthermore, the 5 and 2 talent men USED their resources to gain
more (double it).
d.
As Christians we need to
ask, Why am I investing?
What are my intents when I retire?
Is God at the foundation of those plans?
Am I investing so that in the future I can do more for God?
Do we want to retire so that we can do more for God?
e.
What are we investing
in? This is
just a reminder to be responsible.
Are your investments more about making money than virtue?
What are you investing in?
Immoral activities? Do you
KNOW what you are supporting with your investments?
These are things we ought to think about.
f.
Is investing a form of gambling? No (though it can
be irresponsible). It does
involve risk, but so does everything in life.
The purpose of honorable investment is for all involved to
benefit and profit from it.
Gambling is about covetousness.
It is about one winning at the loss of others.
g.
What about insurance? There are some who see insurance
(specifically life insurance) as a lack of trust in God?
First of all, in some instances insurance is the law and we must
follow the law (automobile and soon to be, health).
But what about life insurance? Can we go overboard?
What is our purpose?
To help our “heir” be able to get by OR to give them the life of luxury
after we are gone? Are we
helping them spiritually (i.e. relieving burdens)?
Remember what Paul told Timothy about younger widows in 1 Tim.
5:11-14 to marry and continue their lives.
Solomon expressed concerns about leaving an inheritance to a fool.
(Eccl. 2:18-19) Insurance is
part of one’s inheritance.