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 They
were gathered about the lawyer’s desk like cattle at the
trough, waiting with poorly concealed greed for the reading of
the will. Tension mounted as the seal was broken, and the
counselor slowly unfolded a single sheet of paper.
He
read: “I, John Doe, being of sound mind and good judgement,
spent it all.” Period.
And
why not? Are we not here to use the bounty God gives us; to
spend and be spent in His service? I do not know how the above
John Doe ”spent it all” — perhaps ill-advised and
selfishly — but he made his own mistakes with that which came
to his hand.
We
have obligations to our wife and small children who may survive
us that should be considered. The uncertainties of old age make
a literal “even-up” conclusion practically impossible, but
do not remove it as a desirable ideal.
I
am not commending the spendthrift, the wastrel, the prodigal who
has no sense of responsibility for the proper use of his
substance. We are stewards of the things of God, with an
obligation to use wisely.
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Saving
is a virtue, when this means a judicious holding of funds so
that we may have something to USE at a more propitious time. It
teaches self -control — it builds confidence and (albeit a ‘this-world’
related) feeling of solidness and security. But a miser may
convince himself that he is just conservative — not given to
the “sinful waste of money.” His gold and silver cankers
while sinners die untaught, and his neighbor dies unassisted.
(Jas. 5:1-6) The step between constructive saving and selfish
hoarding is not a big one. When God is no longer served, Mammon
slides easily into His place.
“But
things are so unsettled,” argues the man who trusts in this
world; “Anything could happen!“
“That’s
right! Anything, including the end of this world —” What
then??
I
believe God wants me to work hard, make money, save it — but
only to the end that I may USE that which comes to my hand as
tools to serve and glorify Him. There is no “money exchange”
in heaven. Those of sound mind, good judgement, and an
understanding of scripture, will seek to “spend it all” here
— properly.
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