Comments on: How Can Christians Find A Right Saving Balance?

By: Post-Weekend Reading – 12/28/09 | Provident Planning

Post-Weekend Reading – 12/28/09 | Provident Planning — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:33:39 +0000

[...] Craig at Money Help for Christians wrote a great article asking how can Christians find a right savings balance? [...]

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:06:34 +0000

@Scott
You are in a unique positon because you actually see and experience people’s generosity on a daily basis. Thanks for reminding us that driving a BMW does not mean you are a greedy person.
BTW, are you going to take me for a drive in your BMW when I come back to NA for furlough?

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:04:24 +0000

@jarthurford
Hmmm. Never knew there was a ‘hoarding’ condition. I guess this is yet another reasons to put out fundamentalism aside.
I like question #2 “Does my need to save take such a primary role that it prohibits my giving to God and to others?”
Thanks for your comment.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:03:33 +0000

@Scott
You are in a unique position because you actually see and experience people’s generosity on a daily basis. Thanks for reminding us that driving a BMW does not mean you are a greedy person.
BTW, are you going to take me for a drive in your BMW when I come back to NA for furlough?

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:03:11 +0000

@Paul
I guess ultimately the greatest example we can offer is our own lives. There is no better way to teach. Thanks for your comment.

By: Scott Ferguson

Scott Ferguson — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:29:05 +0000

GREAT article! As one who has always worked for charities, I have struggled with this often. And yet as one who works in fundraising for these charities, I have also learned that many people in those BMW’s are extremely generous to the poor, to the needy, and to many organizations and individuals. And sometimes in very big ways. And often in quiet. So my question always remains, how generous am I?

By: Paul Williams @ Provident Planning

Paul Williams @ Provident Planning — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:47:52 +0000

Great article once again, Craig! I really struggle with #1. It's hard for me to look at Christians driving BMWs and not think it's such a waste of money. But in the same sense I "waste" a lot of money on unnecessary things, too. I think we still need to avoid using that as an excuse to spend whatever we want on luxuries for ourselves while the poor suffer. BUT I also realize I need to focus primarily on what I can do and not on what others should do. As we walk in the Spirit, God will lead us all to a life of sacrificial generosity that will please Him. My focus should be on how I can spur myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ to focus on living in the Spirit instead of being so quick to judge. God can still be working even if I can't see it yet. .-= Paul Williams @ Provident Planning´s last blog ..Merry Christmas! =-.

By: jarthurford

jarthurford — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:36:30 +0000

As I read, I thought about hoarding in a more general sense. Hoarding stuff has become a major problem to over 2 million Americans. It is seen by as an illness related to little or no activity in one part of the brain. Perhaps looking at extreme hoarders can provide some perspective to those who haven’t been diagnosed as hoarders. Often they exhibit exaggerated fears and find safety in having things around them. Sooner or later it impacts their health and their safety.

Without doing the research, I wonder if it would be helpful to ask myself the following relative to my saving:
1. Has my saving impacted my providing for my families needs? We periodically hear of a family living in destitute poverty, only to learn after the death, perhaps of the father that he had squirreled away tens or hundreds of thousands. While I may not be that extreme, it could still be keeping me from meeting real physical needs (i.e food, clothing, shelter) of my spouse or children.
2. Does my need to save take such a primary role that it prohibits my giving to God and to others?
3. If I’m honest, do my savings fill the role of providing the true source of any joy and security I might feel?

If the answer is yes, then I think I need to reevaluate my saving. It might also be that we need at least spiritual and perhaps medical counseling too in order to find balance.