• I can’t invest my savings because the markets can’t be trusted to not go under.
• I can’t let the money just sit because inflation will rapidly decrease its value.
• I can’t simply spend the money because then I’ll have no savings, and since it’s an IRA account, I’d be severely penalized for withdrawing it.

This dilemma makes me hesitant to try and save much at all. If the value of the dollar decreases exponentially in the next couple of years, where will I be when my savings are worth less than they were when I started “saving”? Why am I working so hard to put away money when it could all be disintegrated at the drop of a hat?

These thoughts have once again shown me that my worldly efforts are most often worthy of nothing. I need to take my finances to Christ, and have faith that He will provide for me whether I’m financially well-off or hurting for money. I’m reminded of these famous verses in Matthew 6:

¹⁹“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I praise God that I have faith and do not have to worry about my future. Otherwise, I think I might worry myself to death. If my pride were in my finances or my material possessions, I would likely be too depressed and burdened to keep pushing forward. Likewise with any other worldly area of my life.

Of course, this is not to say that financial planning and responsibility is a bad thing (it is important, in fact), but it is something that should be prayed about and spiritually considered, rather than observed from the typical hoarding perspective. Those who hoard live in constant risk and will eventually lose everything; those who share will gain life and salvation.

So here are my questions for you:

• What are some of the ways you are able to seek financial guidance from God?
• Does anyone have a real-life story that drives this point home?
• Does anyone disagree with any of the points that I’ve made?
• What has God taught you in managing your finances or dealing with our current economic state?

I’ll look forward to your responses. :)