I’ve worked in the high-tech industry for years. As far as I can discern, most of the people I work with are unbelievers. As you might imagine, I run into a lot of people who are very concerned about their financial investments. If I were to ask most of them, they’d say that they are working hard now so they might retire comfortably later. According to science, IQ is directly related to one’s ability to invest in their future versus spending their wealth sooner, even if it means there’s less to spend. Is there some value to having funds for a rainy day? According to the Bible, it is a wise practice.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
-Proverbs 21:5

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
-Proverbs 21:20

I guess there’s some truth behind the notion of saving for future needs. If you recall the story of Joseph, ultimately God used the grain he had stored up to deliver His people from famine (read Genesis 41:49-57). As a balance statement, Jesus said:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus’ words ought never be taken lightly, especially to the person who is secretly bolstered by a stockpile of material possessions. With that said, this blog isn’t about Biblical investment strategies; rather, it’s about what we do with whatever portion of our earnings God has set aside for our own leisure. We know from Holy Scripture that God isn’t against enjoying prosperous times. Even Paul alludes to it plainly, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Philippians 4:12). The secret is finding the blessing, regardless of circumstance. The secret is perspective, not whether you are rich or poor. Some have lived very unfulfilling lives because they don’t understand this simple principle.

As a general rule, the Bible doesn’t teach asceticism as a necessary function of holiness (albeit there are definite times where the Holy Spirit will encourage us to refrain from certain things for our own good). In fact, whenever the Bible refers to earthly wealth, it simply states that we ought to be grateful to the One who provides it:

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
-Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Now, I want to share something I’ve learned from my oldest son. I’m going to paraphrase him (maybe he’ll correct me later), but whenever he speaks about where he wants to spend money God has given him to enjoy, he says he prefers an experience over a material item. In other words, he’d rather spend his hard-earned money on enjoying an experience than purchasing a new “toy”, a bigger home, a nicer vehicle, and so on. This got me thinking.

What do we enjoy most in life: memories or materials?

That’s a very interesting question to ponder. Do we take our family to the park or do we buy a new gold watch? Do we buy the whole family something nice, or do we take them on vacation? I’m not proposing one option is always better than the other, only that there’s something to be said about building memories over acquiring more stuff. I suppose you could argue that certain material possessions are a vehicle for new memories, but that’s not the point I’m making. My focus is on the outcome.

At the end of the day, memories are what we’re after. What rich person is thinking about their possessions on their deathbed? You know what they are thinking about? All the memories they have of loved ones (or should’ve had, but missed out on).  

If experience has taught me anything (with a little help from my son), it’s that memories are the blessing, not the materials.

Ever watch a young child near a Christmas tree after receiving a bunch of presents? What do they play with? The boxes – LOL! I guess, prior to being tainted by a materialistic world, we don’t need all the fancy toys to enjoy ourselves, huh? I think back on my childhood and some of my favorite memories with my family involve eating a cheese pizza and then taking turns sliding down a grassy slope on the pizza box afterwards. Now those are good memories that I’m sure I’ll be pondering on my own death bed.

Food for thought…

Consider spending your God-given resources on making memories with those you love. Let that be the end goal, always (after you tend to other priorities, of course). Think about all the meals that are written about in the Bible. What’s that about? Well, it’s simple – spending resources on a nice meal so that loved ones may gather together is a really good investment. Why? Because it creates beautiful memories; memories that you’ll keep with you while some of the new toys you bought collect dust in the basement, ready to be sold at the next yard sale or eBay auction.

Spend your resources on making memories as that has the greater return on investment.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
-Acts 2:42-47

Be especially sure to make memories with those whom God has ordained as members of the Body of Christ, for they are the people we will be spending the rest of eternity with.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
-Galatians 6:10

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
-Hebrews 10:24-25

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
-Matthew 18:20

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins