Dear Lazybones…

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!  Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.  Proverbs 6: 6-11

Tax season is here and the commercials for RRSPs can be heard on most radio stations. So do you save for a rainy day? Are you someone who has squirreled away an emergency fund (‘they’ say you should save anywhere from 3 to 6 months salary)? How about that nasty ‘B’ word…and no, not that one. I’m talking about having a budget. Do you have one? What about saving for retirement, or have you resigned yourself to working right up until the day you leave this fine world of ours?

The ‘winter seasons’ of life. Some call these the ‘golden years’, or the ‘twilight years’, or as my Mom called them, the ‘rusty years’. If you’re planning on living a full life, then you need to factor in that at some point, those ‘winter years’ are going to come. Will you be prepared for those years, or is your idea of a retirement fund, moving in with your kids? If so, I would suggest you check with them to see if they share your future vision.

Now on this note, I need to add that I have spoken to some Christians who question the whole concept of saving for retirement…that’s it’s not a very ‘Christian’ thing to do. Their perspective is that you could give that money to the poor, to a good cause, to missions, etc. Their argument is that Jesus will provide for us, therefore, a retirement fund is not necessary. I get why one could have that perspective, and I know that Jesus instructed his followers to store up treasures in heaven. But alas, I digress…this post is not about that.

In these six verses you have wisdom Scripture instructing people that it is most wise to consider the humble ant. The ant diligently works at preparing for the winter season that is about to come, otherwise, that ant will wake up one day to find that it’s too late.

Scripture is not telling us to hoard, nor is it instructing us to just think of ourselves, but it is telling us that when it comes to the money that we do have, we would be most wise to exercise self-discipline.

Yes, provide for yourself today and trust Jesus, but remember that winter IS coming.