Stepping stones

Saving money is always a good idea. If you don’t know what else to do, if you are unsure which life direction to take, find your way to the nearest bank and open a savings account.

Don’t trust the banks? Start your own under the floor boards. Stash some cash in an old coffee can. Park a few pennies in a piggy bank. Then, wait until you are in a position to strategically focus your spending. Save until you can see your way ahead.

Does that sound like a good idea? If you are lacking vision right now, how about investing in a “Life Launch” fund in the meantime? The cash will be sure to come in handy someday.

Money isn’t everything but it makes a difference

No, your meager savings may not be enough. In fact, what is in your account likely won’t be. Nobody can navigate their way through life all alone. But saving something is still better than saving nothing. It is better than a kick in the head – as my former boss used to say in a lighthearted way concerning the modest salary increase he was able to offer. And making a habit of saving is much better than engaging in irresponsible spending or accumulating useless debt.

Being broke isn’t exactly the best way to start out in life or to finish off your journey either. Lacking financial resources is a liability: It won’t help or improve your situation. It will hold you back and block your way.

But the problem is that saving money is admittedly easy to recommend and often very difficult to do. Spending money is usually no problem at all. Making the money and saving the money – that’s the problem. For saving lacks the immediate excitement and instant gratification connected to spending. And even if you really want to set some money aside it can be a challenge.

If the economic situation is bleak where you happen to live, saving anything substantial may seem impossible. But what is the alternative in terms of financial goals? More credit? More debt?

Learning to live beyond your means early on in life won’t lead to a growing sense of peace and satisfaction and accomplishment as the years go by. It will lead rather to frustration and discontent. Acquiring a few shiny things might impress a few people and improve your social standing for a few brief moments. But that is about it. Having adventures is all fine and good, but somebody has to pay the bills.

By way of contrast, learning how to use money wisely is part of what is involved in growing up. Learning how to live within your means and provide for your own needs is part of the maturing process.

So take the time to reflect on your financial goals. Think about your future. Try to picture where you will be in 10 or 20 years if your earning potential and spending habits do not change. Avoid anxiety but face reality.

And if this encouragement to save sounds “unspiritual” and contrary to a life that is focused on trusting in God, consider that God often provides through people who have extra cash on hand partly because of good money management. That is how it works. Entertaining the illusion that humanity can get on quite nicely without God is a huge mistake. But still, each person and organization is responsible to do what they can with what they have.

Money isn’t everything but it makes a difference.

If you want to cross a stream, if you hope to reach the other side, it will be necessary to find a few solid and well-placed stones.