Interesting topic. I’ve been thinking on the same lines ever since reading Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love, almost immediately after complete Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

At first, I thought, there’s got to be a balance between these two extremes. But then I’m reminded that God is kind of all about extremes. So many times when he acted on behalf of his people, or communicated something to him, he did it up so big there was little doubt of His power.

I’m still not sure what all this looks like in my own life, though.

Security.

Letting perfect love replace your fear means risking everything.

I definitely have begun to feel the same tension in the last few years.  It’s a tough tension.  It can be an agonizing one.  But I think it’s a good one.  It’s one we should be wrestling with.  And I’m glad that there are others who are struggling with the same questions.

I struggle with this same thing and realize that all too often I find too much security (or insecurity) according to the balance in our savings account.

Good questions.

Honestly, I’ve never really known financial need. Not that we’re rich, but we’ve just always had enough.

Part of me wants to give God more room to amaze me.

That’s scary and uncertain. I don’t like uncertainty.

But, I guess, without risk there is no reward.

In finances or in faith.

Sometimes I wish retirement was outlined in the Bible. But, probably, if I had a rule to follow, I wouldn’t seek His face.

Interesting post...yet I can’t help but think of the parable of the servants and how the ones who invested and doubled their income were praised. Was that a parable for talents/gifts (as I often hear taught)—or for the obvious use of money as well?

I agree with you Shaun.  And I think it is a matter of security, like not wanting big change to happen to us, not wanting to risk the side effects, not wanting to have extra work, etc.
For me, I think it would apply to coming out of my shell to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone.  Part of me wants to just do it, ‘cos I see people all the time who could benefit, but I also don’t want to turn from my little schedule I have fixed for myself, ‘cos it would be so uncomfortable.
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Side question:  I’m curious… what college did you go to, Shaun?

thanks for showing me, and maybe you didn’t mean to, how narrow my faith can be. I sincerely mean this. When was the last time I wanted to get uncomfortable or was asked to get uncomfortable by God? It’s so silly to cling to comfort.

Shaun - Loved this post.  I have had the same questions and feelings for some time.  The thing is… God is our Provider.  He tells us in his word not to store up treasure on earth and not to worry about tomorrow’s problems because today has enough of its own.  But like you said, saving and investing are not deemed evil; it’s the responsible thing to do, right?  Or is it? 

I guess I think saving/investing for a specific purpose - a worthy cause - is more honorable than saving/investing simply to accumulate wealth or because you don’t trust the Lord to take care of you when trials come.  I really don’t know.  I’m just thinking out loud through my keyboard…

Thanks. struggling thru this myself. i love this prayer in proverbs.

i got in a lot of trouble with some of my readers once for suggesting that the local church would do well to try to model their finances on ministries like Compassion and World Vision… with 80+ percent of their resources going toward missions and ministry, instead of utilizing 80-90% of their income to pay staff and upkeep on buildings, which i’ve found to be the way most churches that i’ve been associated with divided up the pie.  i even threw this out to one of Compassion’s regional managers to see if i was barking up the wrong tree, and while he said i was probably being rather unrealistic in my expectations for the church, he did cite a few examples of churches that allocate upwards of 50% of their resources to minister outside the church walls.

so… while contemplating all this, i came to the realization that this needs to be true in my own personal finances, and so when i save or invest, it’s with a goal in mind to be able to help as many people as possible.  of course i have no children living at home now, so this isn’t nearly as risky a proposition for me as it would be for a person with children depending on them to keep a roof over their head, clothes on their backs and food on the table.

there’s certainly a tension there between providing for the fam (especially children), and looking out for the least of these…

The mere fact that you are contemplating these things proves your in the right place I think.  Could all of our money go to Missions sure it could, but one thing that, for lack of a better word grates on me, is that many people give their money to missions and then do zilch here at home. 

It seems to me that God wants us as much as he wants our money and property.  Let’s not forget that while there is a lot said about money.  everything thing we have is God’s.  I don’t think its wrong to save or invest, in fact I praise God that you’ve been blessed enough to do that.  I for one have not. 

You may or may not recall, but I commented a month or so ago about a mom and her kids who looked like they were going through some piles of clothes outside the Loaves and Fishes store (Closest thing we have to a mission or goodwill).  What I wouldn’t have given to be able to say hey, can I help you, knowing that the Lord had given me the ability to save money to help someone who was truly in need.  Alas, I had nothing but two dimes in my pocket, and most of the money already farmed out for bills.

God blesses each of us in different ways, and he does not give everyone the means to be able to save.  I presume that he does this so that we help each other, lending our time, our treasure, or our precious honor to helping another.

Very timely post.  i’ve been struggling with this as well as other issues with “the church” and just blogged (rambled) about it last night. 

I’m currently going through Financial Peace University and one of the core concepts there is to build pay yourself (savings) and give first - before anything else.  You are then to get your savings up to a certain level and then you continue to live by the same principles so that you can “give like no one else”. 

As I think about this I keep asking myself these questions.  What are we as the body of Christ called to do?  What is His church called to do?  How does what we are called to do line up with what we are actually doing and with what the church has become?

Oh - and Francis Chan’s Crazy Love is next on my reading list and I’ll be honest - I’m excited but scared of where it will take me.  As always, good thoughts Shaun.

Shaun… there you go again planting idea seeds that will burrow into my mind all day.  My husband gets annoyed everytime I play the “you dont’t love God"… clip from your Costa Rica trip every time I need to decide to buy something.
I grew up poor.  My parents excuse for the unsteadiness in our lives was you need to trust God.  As an adult I find my self trying to anticipate all pain.  I have every insurance known to man. I am all about the back up plan.  I know this means I don’t trust God...I mean I trust him for his existance, salvation, and loving me.  However I know that there is no way to out plan God.  If he wants you penniless there is no stopping him.  And sadly for you if he wants you to be a super wealthy soft rock star you cannot fight it.  I guess like all things you have to seek his will to find balance.

i’m adopting this prayer.
continue the struggle till death!

Tina, it is interesting that you brought up the parable of the talents. Yesterday, I was reading Kraybill’s Upside-Down Kingdom. He said that the parable of the talents is not about talents, gifts or money. The talents represent something else. Much like the seed in the parable of the sower represents the word of God, the talents represent the kingdom of God [to Kraybill]. Those who multiply the kingdom by spreading its message are commended while those who hoard the message are condemned. This drastically changes the meaning of the parable, especially for those who believe that living a kingdom life involves giving up riches. This is just another interpretation of the parable that I thought was interesting.

I tend to air on the “give it all away and live in Africa” side of things...but that’s not for everybody.

I’ve found myself having this kind of conversation with my family and friends a lot lately. I’m a lot more interested in investing into things that are of eternal value...but I know there’s value to being a good steward of earthly things, as well. I don’t make much, especially considering the degree I have, and I’ve struggled through the poverty mentality my first year out of college and faced down some pretty tough situations and hard questions when it came to finances.

I haven’t arrived by any means...all I know is this: there is grace and wisdom in Christ.

About 2 weeks ago, God began convicting me about frivolous spending and my lack of giving (i’m just recently a born again-born again!) Then Friday’s bible study was all about greed and wealth. Then Sunday was Commitment Day at church. And now you! Geez, God must think I need a smack upside the head!  I understand that I need to think less about myself and more for others. I Tim 6:10 says “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”. But I’m as confused as you about when it comes to investment and retirement savings.  Would that be considered “storing up treasures” or simply using the ways God has blessed me to provide for a time when I cannot earn a living? I’ll be reading your blog to my bible study group Friday since this raises a valid point that has not been discussed. I’ll let you know what I learn.
On a side note, a girl in my single’s group (years ago) gave faithfully to church. When she lost her job she was torn over what to do. She gave her normal offering, leaving her with about $5 to her name and praying for help. Later that week, she was called by the same company, offered a new position with a significant pay raise! God is great!

So I’ve been doing some research. Rather than writing them all out, here are some verses for reflection:
Matt. 25:27
Prov. 30:25
Prov. 13:11
Eccl. 11:2
Prov. 28:8
1 Cor. 16:1-2
In a nutshell, its more than okay, its WISE to invest the blessings God has given you. If you were saving for that luxury cruise around the world, surely not. But if your eyes are on Him and His purposes then saving what you have now so you can continue His work even when times are tough is the smart way to go. Don’t abandon your savings!
Hope this brings you peace!