Good money management is always a matter of putting basic financial principles into practice day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year.
Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest means rainy days are going to happen. It’s not a matter of if, but when. That reality can mess with my early morning walks—if I let it; because I prefer staying dry to getting wet. I discovered it’s all about wearing the right clothes. I can continue those morning walks, despite the weather, if I’m ready to walk in the rain. I now own a pair of rain pants and a good rain coat. The weather won’t keep me inside.
Jesus taught a lot about being prepared for His return. One of His parables tells of ten virgins. Five were wise. Five were foolish. Just like the rains, Jesus will return. We just don’t know when. The key is to be prepared.
Managing money wisely works on the same principle. Prepare. Be ready. Store up a surplus as the wise virgins did. Each one of them took extra oil jars in their handbags so their lamps would not go out.
The foolish virgins didn’t plan ahead. All had lamps; but no additional oil. Once the oil was gone, their lamps went out. A lot of us, like foolish virgins, are not ready and the day comes when the oil runs out.
Both the rains and Jesus will return. Most of us recognize the phrase the haves and the have nots. It’s not just talking about wealth or poverty. It’s a matter of planning to sustain our lifestyles into the future by counting today’s needs and storing up for tomorrow’s necessities. Some very practical thinking makes this scenario possible:
1. What’s in the kitchen cupboards? Is there food for this week but not enough to make it to the end of the month? Remember to fill those shelves with staples. Beans, rice, soups, applesauce, crackers … stock up. The Haves will keep a 2-3 months’ supply of food on hand.
2. Is there enough gas in the car to get to work, but not home again? If you had to evacuate in a hurry, could your family quickly get out of town to a safe place? At a minimum, Haves stash enough gas money away to fill the tank twice.
3. What about the pets? Pets eat, too. The Haves store up an extra bag of animal food.
Some circumstances will be out of our control, but many practical details are a matter of planning and choice. What can we do today to count ourselves as one of the Haves and not as one of the Have Nots?
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. Matthew 25:3-4
