Stepping Stone: Wisdom and Freedom
In the river of life, few stepping stones are as crucial as those that shape our personal relationship with freedom. This stone emerged from a conversation that revealed profound truths about how we navigate the intersection of faith, finances, and the world we live in.
The Reality of the Herd
It's easy to believe we're different, special, or above the crowd. Yet the truth is, as my conversation reminded me, "You yourself are also part of the herd. As am I." This humility is the foundation of wisdom:
"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." (Romans 12:3)
Recognizing our place in the broader human experience helps us see the world clearly. Most people use the same tools, follow similar paths, and make comparable decisions. This isn't necessarily wrong, it's simply reality. Understanding this reality is the first step toward making wise decisions.
Wishful Thinking vs. Biblical Reality
We often fall into the trap of wishful thinking, of wanting things to be true and rejecting reality. The Bible addresses this tendency directly:
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." (Proverbs 22:3)
Financial wisdom requires us to see the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. This means understanding that while we serve God, we live in a world governed by economic principles. We must navigate these principles wisely while maintaining our eternal perspective.
Freedom as the Ultimate Goal
My conversation crystallized a powerful definition of freedom: "To do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whoever I want." This aligns with the biblical concept of freedom in Christ:
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)
True freedom is about having options and the ability to choose. Money is never the goal itself but rather a tool that can help us achieve this freedom if used wisely.
Money as a Tool, Not an Idol
The Bible is clear about the proper perspective on money:
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)
Money and other resources are tools to help us reach our goals, not the goals themselves. When we recognize this, we can use these tools effectively without becoming enslaved to them. This is especially important because, as the conversation noted, "We have to use those tools, because that's how the world works."
The Biblical Mandate to Save and Invest
Scripture provides clear guidance on financial stewardship:
"The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." (Proverbs 21:20)
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." (Proverbs 6:6-8)
Saving and investing are biblical principles. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates God's expectation that we wisely invest what we've been given. The servants who invested their talents were rewarded, while the one who buried his was condemned.
The Danger of Squandering Opportunity
The conversation later mentioned lottery winners who squander their wealth, a phenomenon the Bible warns against:
"An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end." (Proverbs 20:21)
"Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." (Proverbs 11:28)
Receiving resources without the wisdom to manage them is dangerous. This is why the process of saving and investing is so valuable, because it builds not only wealth but character and wisdom along the way.
The Mindset of Stewardship
As the conversation emphasized, "The mindset is key." This aligns perfectly with biblical teaching:
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)
Our mindset toward money reveals our heart. If we're faithful with small amounts, we'll be faithful with larger amounts. If we're unfaithful with little, we'll be unfaithful with much. This principle applies whether we have little or much.
Patience and Long-Term Perspective
The conversation noted that achieving goals "…takes decades of patience. It is harder than having a child." The Bible affirms the value of patience:
"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32)
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
Financial freedom is rarely achieved overnight. It requires consistent, faithful application of biblical principles over time. This long-term perspective helps us avoid get-rich-quick schemes and stay the course.
Breaking Free from Generational Patterns
The conversation touched on the burden of outgrowing one's parents in wisdom. The Bible addresses this dynamic:
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
"Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." (Proverbs 23:22)
While we honor our parents, we're also called to grow in wisdom, beyond what we were taught. This includes breaking free from unhealthy financial patterns and establishing new, biblical approaches to money and freedom.
Conclusion
As we continue our journey, this stepping stone reminds us that financial wisdom and true freedom are found at the intersection of biblical principles and practical reality. By following God's financial principles, we can build a foundation that allows us to experience the freedom He intends for us.
"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:18)