How Much Is Enough
Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Living Expenses, Investments, Retirement, and Inheritance
Now that we have gone over the various motives for accumulating money, we will examine the question of how much is enough? Each of us is involved in making, spending, saving, and sharing the wealth God supplies. But how much should we put into each category?
Current provision is the accumulation of living standard and short-term cash reserves. ( in other words Cash on hand for daily living) it is not protection, nor is it the same for everyone. No two families will have the same Goals within God’s will or the same standard of living. His range is usually wide enough to all many individual differences. But it does have specific limits and those set our life-styles.
Those who do not make provision for their families are clearly outside of God’s plan and suffer as a result. Those that hoard or live lavishly are also not in God’s plan and suffer accordingly.
Proverbs 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;(31) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. (32) Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. (33) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (34) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
What is the main characteristic described in verses 30 and 31?
What is the result of this characteristic?
Proverbs 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Prosperity comes from?
Proverbs 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
As expressed in Proverbs 18:11, riches are?
Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (25) Woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
a. How does Christ describe those who indulge themselves?
b. What is their ultimate reward?
These verses help a Christian construct a life-style according to God’s plan:
a. Slothfulness is not tolerated – Proverbs 24:30
b. Overwork is not acceptable – Psalm 127:2
c. God encourages some saving – Proverbs 21:20
d. God abhors one who hoards – Ephesians 5:5
e. Family “protection” is not possible – Psalm 50:14-15
f. Family provision is God’s minimum and maximum – Hebrews 13:5
Obviously, if part of your ministry is the ability to make money and give it, you will need an investment reserve. Too many people believe that amount to be 100%. They take 100% of the proceeds of the first investment and put it into a new investment. Sometimes that is done for tax advantage to defer income, but it is not scriptural. God is capable of using His money in His ministry today. Many investors will be disappointed when, after kept the Lord’s money for years and never grasping the opportunity to share in His work, they realize its gone.
Remember the parable of the servants –
Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.(12) He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.(13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.(14) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.(15) And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.(16) Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.(17) And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.(18) And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. (19) And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. (20) And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: (21) For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. (22) And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: (23) Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? (24) And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.(25) (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) (26) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
This parable establishes God’s will for investors. They must be chosen by Him (We will later look at how to find God’s plan) and must be willing to reinvest in His work.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.(34) Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, (35) And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
a. How is stewardship described?
b. What was the motive behind the act?
Many people think that they need to be able to spend a hundred times more money at retirement then they did during the rest of their lives. That’s not true. Once you set a pattern for living during your life it wont change after you retire, except to the decrease in some instances. Even that is not a great change in most cases because your standard of living has leveled off. Christians who accumulate hoards of dollars, ultimately to be used for retirement, are fooling themselves.
Retirement today is a relatively new innovation. Only two or three generations ago people believed it was unnecessary to stop all activity simply because one was 62 or 65 years old. That same thinking will again be evident when most of modern day programs prove to be insolvent. That doesn’t mean that you cannot plan towards a less productive period of advanced age, but it does mean that your plans should be compatible with God’s purpose for you at 65 and above.
God speaks about fulfillment throughout a lifetime in Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. (20) For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
a. When God supplies wealth it is for?
b. When someone works according to God’s Plan, his gift is?
c. How is his age described?
Luke 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (31) But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
a. God’s promise is?
b. What is his prerequisite?
c. What is God’s promise in Psalm 37:28?
Thus, God will allow some accumulation in prospect of advancing years, but He will not allow hoarding. That transfers dependence from God to money.
Anyone who believes they can store enough for the future had better reassess where we are and what the future holds. Are you willing to trust God totally and accept His Word as true?
Today’s society urges us to leave large amounts of money to our loved ones upon our passing. Christians today do not consider the consequences of leaving large amounts of money or insurance to immature or unknowledgeable family members. We somehow believe that money provides “protection,” and we develop great walled islands for our loved ones.
The need to provide for others extends beyond death if resource is available. But the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24) shows the result of providing in excess. At least that father was still alive to counsel his son. Paul expresses the joy of earning one’s way in Acts 20:33-35.
Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. (34) Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (35) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Ask yourself in light of Paul’s message:
a. Have you caused your children to covet your money?
b. Do you want them to earn their own way?
c. Would you rather have them be givers than takers?
Does this imply that a Christian is to leave no provision for his family? Absolutely not. It means that we are to always think in terms of provision not protection.
Ecclesiastes 6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
This verse describes a husband and father who was at death a burden to his family.
a. What was his error?
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
What is this man described as here?
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
What is the inheritance of a good man?
Remember the error of the man in Luke 9:59?
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
His father’s inheritance was a stumbling block.
Why?
Ecclesiastes 4:7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. (8) There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
This passage speaks of storing riches without cause. That same assessment should be made for storing riches to the injury of ones family.
Thus, the range of God’s will, may well be expressed as a single reference point.