Real Financial Security

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Was again confronted today with the issue of "financial security". Different people will have different views on how much is sufficient to ensure "financial freedom" and "financial security". No thanks to modern financial "gurus" like Robert Kiyosaki of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" fame and the numerous financial advisors advocating how much we all need in order to retire "comfortably", many people, including Christians are all getting worried.

Why? because going by all these "standards" set, most of us will never achieve the level of financial security and freedom that is being advocated. In other words, if they are correct, most of us will be financially "poor" in our later years or during times of need.

The solution? Some have dedicated all their spare time to earn whatever extra bucks they can through sidelines, investments etc, so as to build up their nest egg. Problem with this approach is that many end up sacrificing their current freedom in terms of precious time with family, serving God etc to achieve a rather elusive and vague "financial freedom" for the future.

Don't get me wrong. I am all for responsible financial management, savings, investment and planning for the future. I must also admit that the same worries that most people have for their finances also plague me from time to time. But for us Christians, surely achieving "financial freedom" cannot be an end to itself? Isn't there a better way?

I believe there is. Consider Matt 6:19-34:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:19-34)

If we are honest with ourselves, I think Matt 6:19-34 addresses everything about our concerns for achieving financial security for the present and future. Very reassuring for me to know that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what our worries and fears are, even before we voice them.

Key lessons from these verses:

(1) Don't store for ourselves earthly treasures that don't last. Go for the heavenly ones that help align our hearts with Him.

(2) Be careful that the light in our eyes is not $$.... that is one sure way of creating darkness in our souls.

(3) We can rationalise all we want. But at the end, for every worry for our finances everything boils down to one question: Do we want to serve God or Money?

(4) God knows what we need now and in the future, when we are old and frail. His promise is that He will provide.

(5) So don't worry about tomorrow....it is a sign of lack of faith in our Father.

(6) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. We know and proclaim this...but do we walk the talk?

(7) Do not run after the same things that the pagans do, your Father knows better what you really need. Remember Romans 12:2:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)

Maybe it is time to re-think and perhaps even ditch the conventional wisdom of the world when it comes to financial security and freedom.
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