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 Date Aug 8, 2010 Previous | Next By Bev Ellen Clarke He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6
“We have how much money in our bank account?” my husband asks.
“Enough to cover this purchase,” I answer. I grin up at my husband who still has his mouth open. “I’ve been putting a little money aside every month,” I tell him. I have a feeling of pride and satisfaction as I find my checkbook and show my husband the numbers.
It’s a good feeling. Such a good feeling, in fact, that in the next thirty odd years of our marriage I never abandoned the habit of putting money aside.
I like knowing we can handle a financial emergency.
I enjoy realizing that we have more choices because there is always a little “in reserve”. And I love the security of not having to live “hand to mouth.”
In fact I’m afraid I was almost too cocky in our early years about the fact that, in spite of meager pay checks, we never had to live “hand to mouth” like some of our family and friends. We didn’t live “high” on payday and barely survive near the end of the month. We never had to forego buying something on a good sale because we didn’t get paid for another week, or go begging for a hand out when the car broke down, promising - “just until I can get my check cashed on Friday!”
I have discovered, however, that having a bit of money put aside is useless when facing grief, or discouragement. Money in the bank isn’t enough in a health crisis or in times of crippling doubt or depression. To weather these types of life’s emergencies I need to draw reserves from a different type of account. And it’s been a humbling experience to find that my reserves in this “bank” have often been dangerously low.
You see, it turns out that I did in fact live ‘hand to mouth’ when it came to my relationship with God. Instead of seeking God to know Him better, I had been seeking God to fill my needs. Instead of “budgeting” that all-important daily time for getting to know God as a trusted friend, and building a faith relationship with Him step by step, I fell to my knees most often when emergencies arose. Earnest prayer times happened in times of desperation. I ran to God for my spiritual “fix”, then walked away until need forced me back.
Living hand to mouth with a paycheck means fewer choices, and more stress. But living hand to mouth in a relationship with God means less joy and peace of mind. I find it difficult to believe in spite of the way I feel when I have no reserves in my spiritual bank. When I fail to build my faith with daily Bible study and prayer, there are no assets in my spiritual account to see me through dark times. My picture of God is distorted too. Without the friendship that dwelling in His presence can build, I am often unable to see past the God who meets my needs to the God who longs for my company. Spiritual growth remains stunted, and like the five maidens who discover they have no more oil, I find no one is able to lend me what I lack.
Like building up a bank account that will see you through life’s emergencies, it takes time to create the kind of spiritual account that will sustain you through all that life deals. It takes deliberate decisions of self discipline. But the effort is well worth the cost.
Having a bit of money put aside for a rainy day provides financial security. Life is easier with a cushion of funds held in reserve. But building up a spiritual surplus is even more beneficial. There is no wealth that can measure up to the contentment of a close friendship with God, and no security that can compare with experiencing His abiding presence. Home | About Us | Devotional | Calendar | Ministries | Coming Events | Bible Study | Prayer | News | Bookstore | About Penticton | Contact Us |
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