Why saving is wise

In one of Aesop's most well-known fables, a wise ant works to save food for wintertime while a foolish grasshopper spends his summer days making music, never planning for the cold months. And when the harsh winter finally comes, the ant is well-fed while the grasshopper is starving and desperate for sustenance.

The moral of this tale echoes the wisdom of Proverbs 21:20: The wise save for the future.

Proverbs goes a step further, describing how wise people don't just save regular, run of the mill provisions, but "choice food and olive oil." There is a sense of careful planning here, even of sacrificing some today so that tomorrow one can have enough.

Contrast that attitude with the actions of the foolish who carelessly "gulp" down their food, and the message is clear that God intends for us to save wisely for the future as we are able.

These days, we don't have to store up actual food and oil to plan for the future. Instead, we should save financially to provide in later years. This doesn't only apply to the young, who have time to save for retirement. Those of us who are already retired should still live wisely and save for future years.

God desires for you to save a portion of the wealth he has entrusted to you - and not only for yourself, but so that you can bless others as well.