“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” Proverbs 13:11 NLT
I have some pretty amazing parents. They have always been extremely loving, kind, generous, and supportive. I truly couldn’t imagine two better people to have helped me become the person I am today. They are amazing people and parents. Having said that … there is one thing about my parents that I have always considered a growth area for them. My parents have always been what you might call “late adopters.” What I mean by that is they have almost always been the last people on the block to adopt the newest technology. When I was growing up we were, by far, the last to get the new-fangled technology like a VCR, Laser Disc, DVD, cordless phone, cable TV, and even a microwave oven. I remember the day my parents broke down and bought a microwave oven. My best friend, Eric, came over and noticed the new contraption sitting on the counter. He looked over at me and said, “Oh my goodness! The Clampetts have entered the 20th century!” Well, we may not have had a cement pond yet, but we finally had a microwave. Microwave ovens are great and have added some value to our culture. However, there are some unintended consequences that have resulted from microwave ovens. We live in a culture where people expect fast, sometimes immediate, results and microwave ovens may be evidence of this cultural dynamic. Have you ever caught yourself standing in front of the microwave oven telling it to hurry up? We want things and we want them now. This mentality spills over into a lot of the areas of our life. We want a lot of things much more quickly in life than used to be expected. Even as a pastor I know that as soon as I say something in church there is at least one person already fact checking me on Google using their smart phone. (By the way – I encourage that people fact check me, especially when it comes to Scripture.) This is the reality of the times we live in. One might say we are still in the microwave era. The biggest issue with this reality is the microwave mentality doesn’t always work. It definitely is not the wise way to look at our finances. When it comes to our finances we need to think long-term. I know there are stories out there of people who did get rich quick. They may have won the lottery, or invested in a rare stock that exploded, or even hit the jackpot in Vegas. I assure you that these are the exceptions to the rule. When it comes to saving for the future the best way is to make consistent deposits over a long period of time. These deposits need to be placed in an account that has been chosen wisely. We are definitely called to be wise when it comes to our savings. Over time, your deposits grow and your savings grows. The savings you accrue over time are available to be used for the purposes God reveals to you. There is no microwave mentality when it comes to saving for the future.
What is your plan for savings? If you are younger please remember the term “compound interest.” If you are older it is never too late to choose wisely when it comes to savings. The key is to be patient and don’t fall prey to the microwave mentality. Remember, based on your past experiences, your current circumstances, and your future hopes and dreams … what is the wise thing to do? Saving for the future enables us to be most available when God calls us into action. It is my prayer that we are all ready for that moment in every way, including our finances. This Sunday we will continue the message series Money Rules. I will be discussing Money Rule #3 and how important it is to save all you can. I look forward to sharing with you Sunday. It’s exciting to see what happens when we follow God’s Money Rules for our finances. I can’t wait to see you in church!