Common Sense Stewardship
Be prepared... The Boy Scout Motto
This article will be a bit different in theme in order to address a common area of concern among many Christians. We live in uncertain times, with spiraling debts, high unemployment and dire economic predictions from countless sources. So, what is a Christian to do? Since my background is in finance and economics, I have probably spent way too much time considering such issues. After spending years obtaining degrees in business, economics and finance, I have learned this truth: The Bible is hands down the best resource for learning what to do in uncertain times. One of the clear instructions of God's Word is that we handle our money as good stewards. So, again, what is a Christian to do?
The first thing to do is to trust in God. Economic uncertainty is not unique to our times and people have survived everything from worldwide depressions to personal bankruptcy. Our duty is to serve God and part of that duty is stewardship in the way we handle our money. Since no one knows what will happen tomorrow, it pays to make reasonable preparations concerning our finances. This realization has led me to develop a simple plan that has worked for our family, and which you might be able to adjust for your own unique circumstances:
Step One: Start a pantry with at least a one month supply of food
Step Two: Stock up on non-perishable items that you use on a regular basis. Have a minimum of three months to a maximum of one year's supply on hand. A pleasant benefit is that once you have an inventory built up, you will never have to buy necessities except when on sale
Step Three: Do Not Take On Unnecessary New Debt
Step Four: Have one to three month's living expenses in savings
The point of having a simple financial plan is to prepare yourself for emergencies. Unexpected events that affect your finances can happen at any time - that's why they are called emergencies. If we as Christians will prepare for the unexpected in advance, it will help us avoid the unnecessary vice of worry and provide peace of mind.
I do want to add a note of caution: This is not some strange prophecy of bad times ahead, or a recommendation to hoard worldly goods, nor is it a suggestion that we trust in our own ability. Rather, it is a simple plan to help us properly prepare, within a scriptural framework, for life's unexpected events. Our trust is to be in God, not things, but we are also required by God to be good stewards of the possessions that He has entrusted to our care. It's a bit tricky to obtain a proper balance between trust in God and appropriate preparations for bad times, but this is precisely what proper stewardship demands.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 22:3, NIV
